The forecast for Monday morning had been for clear skies with a breeze from the west, bad for bird photography. The reality was that it was totally sunny at 7:00am with no wind at all. By 7:15, a breeze from the south/southeast had developed — excellent for bird photography. I spent most of an hour trying to get in position to make some good images of a of three large almost-flying Limpkin chicks. They did not make it easy for me as they foraged first on one side of the pier and then on the other. I surprised myself by creating a small number of very nice images.
Kudos to the New York Rangers who came from a three games to one deficit to eliminate Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburg Penguins from the Stanley Cup Playoffs in overtime of Game 7. And good riddance to the Phoenix Suns, the alleged “best team in the NBA.” The Suns were vanquished by the Dallas Mavericks who also overcame a three games to one deficit and prevailed in Game 7. The Mavs were led by the incomparable Slovenian, Luka Dončić. Did I mention that the final score was 123-90? The truth is that it was not really that close!
Two things on today’s content:
1- Even if you do not like blurs, the Photoshop techniques detailed below will enable you to improve your photography.
2- Digital Basics II will teach you how to use the Photoshop Tools efficiently and outline the techniques that I have used and developed over the past two decades. As I did twice below with today’s featured image, there will be many times when you solve image optimization problems by coming up with new ways to use the tools, by inventing new techniques. DB II will teach you the basics so that you are well-equipped to bring your Photoshop game to new levels.
Today is Tuesday 17 May 2022. The forecast for ILE for this morning is calling for sunny skies with a soft breeze from the NNW. I will be heading down to the lake early as usual. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes sixty-seven days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)
Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.
This image was created on 5 May 2022 at Stick Marsh in Fellsmere, FL. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 422mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 50: 1/30 second at f/8 (stopped down 2/3 stop) in Manual Mode. AWB at 8:02:35am in the shade of a shelter on a clear morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be a bit beyond perfect, i.e., the brightest WHITEs were over-exposed.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird/Eye-Face Detection enabled. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #1: the original for the Roseate Spoonbill incoming blur image
What are the Big Problems With This Image?
1- The WHITEs on the upper back of the spoonbill are seriously over-exposed.
2- The extra bird and the black squiggles in the lower left corner are distracting at best.
3- I don’t care for the pink blur above the inner portion of the far wing.
4- The vegetation and the the rock jetty make for a butt-ugly background.
5- The eye of the incoming bird could be a lot sharper.
I did, however, love the framing and the degree of blurring and decided to address each of the problems above in Photoshop. The raw file was converted twice. See below for a description of what I did to create the digital painting below.
This image was created on 5 May 2022 at Stick Marsh in Fellsmere, FL. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 422mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 50: 1/30 second at f/8 (stopped down 2/3 stop) in Manual Mode. AWB at 8:02:35am iii the shade of a shelter on a clear morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be a bit beyond perfect. i.e., the brightest WHITEs were over-exposed.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird/Eye-Face Detection enabled. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #1A: the digital creation: Roseate Spoonbill incoming blur
Creating the Digital Painting
1- With the WHITEs on the upper back of the spoonbill seriously over-exposed (to the tune of 50,000 OvExp pixels), I used a new technique that I have been working on to restore detail to the over-exposed highlights. It worked to perfection. Folks who own the Saving the Whites Video are invited to send proof of purchase via e-mail to receive a short tutorial via e-mail detailing this new technique.
2- To begin, the lower left corner was cleaned up with a small crop from the left and from below. Then I used the Clone Stamp Tool (a rarity for me) at 10% Hardness. Lastly, the look of this area was improved when I ran a 65-pixel Gaussian blur on the whole image as detailed below.
3- I eliminated the pink blur above the inner portion of the far wing using the Patch Tool and then cleaned up the edge up with the Clone Stamp Tool (sized to 400 px) set at 50% Hardness.
4- To begin the cleanup of the vegetation and the rock jetty background, I used the Patch Tool, Content-Aware Fill, and again, the Clone Stamp Tool at 10% Hardness. Next, I applied a 65-pixel Gaussian Blur to the whole image, added a Hide-All (Black or Inverse) Layer Mask, and painted in the effect with a white brush — shortcut B, D. Lastly, I made sure to eliminate any spill-over blur from the bird by hitting X and painting the edges of the bird with a small, relatively hard (50%), black brush — shortcut B, D, X.
5- I tried a brand-new Eye Doctor technique: I painted a Quick Mask of a spoonbill eye from a sharp image, moved it into place on the blurred image, and simply reduced the Opacity of the eye layer to 50%. It worked like the proverbial charm.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II).
You can order your copy from the BAA Online Store here, by sending a PayPal for $40 here, or by calling Jim or Jennifer weekdays at 863-692-0906 with your credit card in hand. Be sure to specify Digital Basics II.
The BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II)
The techniques mentioned above (except for the two new ones) and tons more great Photoshop tips and techniques — along with all of my personalized Keyboard Shortcuts — are covered in detail in the BIRDS AS ART Current Workflow e-Guide (Digital Basics II), an instructional PDF that is sent via e-mail. Learn more and check out the free excerpt in the blog post here. While the new e-Guide reflects my MacBook Pro/Photo Mechanic/DPP 4/Photoshop workflow, folks using a PC and/or BreezeBrowser will also benefit greatly by studying the material on DB II. Note: folks working on a PC and/or those who do not want to miss anything Photoshop may wish to purchase the original Digital Basics along with DB II while saving $15 by clicking here to buy the DB Bundle.
Folks who learn well by following along rather than by reading can check out the complete collection of MP 4 Photoshop Tutorial Videos by clicking here. Note: of the videos are now priced at an amazingly low $5.00 each.
You can learn how and why I converted all of my Canon digital RAW files in DPP 4 in the DPP 4 RAW Conversion Guide here. More recently, I became proficient at converting my Nikon RAW (NEF) files in Adobe Camera Raw. About three years ago I began converting my Nikon and Sony RAW files in Capture One and did that for two years. You can learn more about Capture One in the Capture One Pro 12 Simplified MP4 Video here. The next step would be to get a copy of Arash Hazeghi’s “The Nikon Photographers’ Guide to Phase One Capture One Pro e-Guide” in the blog post here.
You can learn advanced Quick Masking and advanced Layer Masking techniques in APTATS I & II. You can save $15 by purchasing the pair.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Which of today’s three featured images is your favorite? Please leave a comment and let us know why you made your choice. Or not. 🙂
What’s Up?
I finally found the Killdeer nest on Sunday morning. I will be going down with Jim later today to put up a string fence around it to protect it from the big mowers. I saw the two young Killdeer babies that I had photographed as chicks on 24 April near the base of the pier; both are now flying. How fast they grow. I photographed the growing baby crane in the North Field, did some adult crane sky-scapes, and a pair of Mottled Ducks. The results were iffy at best, but I had fun.
Today is Monday 16 May. The forecast for this morning is for clear with a breeze from the west. Though this is the kiss of death forecast for bird photography, I will head down to the lake early just because (I love birds and photography). You know the life is like a box of chocolates thing … Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes sixty-six days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)
Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.
Wanting a Nikon Z9?
The best way to get your hands on a Z9 is to join NPS (Nikon Professional Services) and then send your member number to Steve Elkins at Bedford via e-mail. Nikon insists that Z9s (and other hard to get stuff) go to NPS members. You can get one from B&H, but they have a huge wait list …
And Please Remember
You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Brand-New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or to any prior purchases.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
Important Note
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link immediately above). My link works with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂
Please Remember Also
Please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will (still!) save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I lost about fifty thousand dollars in income due to COVID 19 — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes, are invited to help out by clicking here to leave a blog thank you gift if they see fit.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
This image was created on 8 May 2022 at Gatorland in Kissimmee, FL. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter (at 400mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 5000: 1/1000 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:22:45am in the shade on a sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot/S with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Snowy Egret feeding chick
Why 1/1000 Second
In the ISO 5000. Last Two Chances for Gatorland I-T-F Sessions blog post here, I asked:
Why did I choose such a high shutter speed?
No-one left a comment. I chose a high shutter speed to try and freeze the action when the chick is going crazy yanking on the adult’s bill. In low light situations, this will always result in the use of high ISOs.
This image was created on 9 May 2022 on the South Peninsula down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates. Working from the front seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebras technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800: 1/1600 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. The exposure was dead solid perfect when evaluated in RawDigger. AWB at 7:43:49 am on a sunny morning.
Tracking: Upper Left Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Cattle Egret holding mayfly in bill tip
Joe Przybyla Nailed It
In the 1200mm Cow Egret & Mayfly Gems! blog post here, I wrote, Which of today’s two very excellent images do you like best. I think that that is a tough call. If you leave a comment, please be sure to let us know why you made your choice.
BPN/Avian Forum-friend Joe Przybyla nailed it when he posted this comment (in part):
Hey Artie, I really like both, but I think the Mayfly perfectly positioned in the second take it over the top.
I agree but only 100 percent.
This is an unsharpened 100% crop of the Cattle Egret holding mayfly in bill tip image
Rodney Dangerfield
Sometimes I feel like Rodney Dangerfield, I don’t get no respect. A here un-named reader left this comment:
Lack of sharpness in both images; their feathers have no detail, a monitor issue? Processing? File size, too big for the number of pixels. Umm ..
Lack of sharpness? No detail? Really? You can visit the original post to check out my reply.
This image was created on 10 May 2022 at Stick Marsh, Fellsmere, FL. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 200mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 64: 1/8 second at f/8 (stopped down 2/3 stop) in Manual Mode. AWB at 6:56:26am on a clear morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be dead-solid perfect.
Tracking: Spot S and then locked focus by pressing and holding the AF-ON button. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Cabbage Palm stand: vertical pan blur
Go Figure
In the Some Days are Diamonds, & Some Days Nothing is Flying blog post here, two ladies who usually do not like or who hate blurs, liked the Cabbage Palm stand: vertical pan blur image. I loved it.
Linear Perspective
One of the reasons is that I loved the image is because I had pointed my lens to the left. This resulted in the trees on the right side of the frame appearing taller than the trees on the left side of the frame. Without realizing it, I used one point linear perspective to add depth to the image. “It seems that things that are further away appear smaller than those that are closer to us.”
The quote above is from Types of Perspective in Art, an excellent and informative blog post by Tom, of TomoStudio. You can read the article here. While visiting the website, I came across a neat article entitled 100 Cool, Easy, Fun & Cute Things to Draw. It might be great for you, for your kids, or for your grandkids. You can find it here.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
There were lots of fledged Tricolored Herons chicks at Gatorland on Saturday morning. The most cooperative ones were at a nest in the sun so there were lots of harsh shadows to deal with. The Great Egret chicks (in three nests) that I have been photographing for two months are getting as big as the adults (though a few have perished). Anyhoo, I was fortunate that the nest was shaded when an adult came in with a belly full of fish. Can you say, Mayhem?
I took a day off from bursts and swimming yesterday but did try something new: flow rope practice, a fun, simple mobility exercise program that promotes rhythm, timing, and coordination between the left and right brain. It is a fun way to exercise and improve mobility and joint health. And with sufficient practice, it can also be a tool to release stress and anxiety. Not that any of us need that. 🙂 I did watch lots of NHL playoff hockey on TiVo.
I was glad to learn yesterday that San Diego IPT veteran Carolyn Johnson signed up for the first Homer/Kachemak Bay IPT.
Today is Sunday 15 May 2022. It was another gorgeous morning here and I spent an interesting hour down by the lake and will share the details here with you tomorrow. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about two hours to prepare and makes sixty-five days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
MacBook Pro with M1 Max Chip Options
The new laptop is amazing. Topaz DeNoise takes only a few seconds and Sharpen AI not much longer. I am using the totally souped up 16.2″ MacBook Pro with M1 Max Chip (Late 2021, Space Gray): Apple M1 Max 10-Core Chip (Processor), 64GB Unified RAM (Memory, 8TB SSD (Storage), and the 32-Core GPU (Graphics configuration). Really serious photo folks can save $1200 by dropping down to the totally souped up 4TB SSD model, this one: Apple 16.2″ MacBook Pro with M1 Max Chip (Late 2021, Space Gray) Those who do not keep their images on their laptops would save another $600.00 and do quite well with the totally souped up 2TB model, the Apple 16.2″ MacBook Pro with M1 Max Chip (Late 2021, Space Gray). All three of these amazingly fast machines feature the Apple M1 Max 10-Core Chip (Processor), 64GB of Unified RAM (Memory), and the 32-Core GPU (Graphics configuration).
Ordering yours from B&H using the links above is the best option — Apple is often slower than slow. Using the BAA B&H link would be greatly appreciated by yours truly.
BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)
Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.
You can purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store for $69.00. Or Call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand.
The Nikon Z9 Guide for Wildlife Photographers
The Nikon Z9 Guide for Wildlife Photographers/by Warren Hatch
Editorial Consultant: Arthur Morris
In this downloadable e-book (you will receive a link by e-mail), you’ll learn everything a wildlife photographer needs to know about the Nikon Z9. The Z9 is one of the most complex camera bodies ever made. In this guide, the brilliant Warren Hatch will teach you exactly how to set up your Z9 for bird, wildlife, and nature photography. The camera offers hundreds of settings and options. Selecting the right combination of these is essential if you wish to effectively use the Z9 in the field.
1- Extensive information on the autofocus system and the optimal settings for the various shooting situations that wildlife photographers encounter including and especially for birds in flight.
2- The camera controls – what they do and how to customize them for your shooting style and varying conditions.
3- Configuring the camera so that you never need to take your eye from the viewfinder when the action unfolds.
5- Insights and details on using legacy F-mount lenses on the Z-9.
6- Practical advice about the camera batteries and chargers.
7- How to take advantage of the new capabilities introduced with firmware v2.00.
8- The AF-area Modes you should use and those you should avoid.
Learn more about the guide here. Order yours here in the BAA Online Store for $69.00. Or Call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand.
Wanting a Nikon Z9?
The best way to get your hands on a Z9 is to join NPS (Nikon Professional Services) and then send your member number to Steve Elkins at Bedford via e-mail. Nikon insists that Z9s (and other hard to get stuff) go to NPS members. You can get one from B&H, but they have a huge wait list …
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This image was created on 14 May 2022 at Gatorland Kissimmee, FL. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 4000: 1/1250 second at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 8:02:35am iii the shade of a shelter on a clear morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be perfect (see below).
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird/Eye-Face Detection enabled. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #1: Great Egret: large chick getting fed
Why the 200-600?
I had three rigs available: the 600 f/4, the 70-200 f/2.8 II with the 2X, and the 200-600. The nest is right next to the boardwalk; the 600 f/4 could not have focused that close. I could have gotten close enough to fill the frame as above with the 70-200 f/2.8 with the 2X but went with the 200-600 even though that combo was 1/3 stop slower: f/6.3 as compared to f/5.6. Why? 600mm provides a narrower angle of view than 400mm and helps to eliminate distracting elements in the background.
The green icon shows the AF point that was active at the moment of exposure. It just missed the eye while tracking the chick’s face.
Image #1A: A7INFO screen capture for the Great Egret: large chick getting fed image
Surely You Jest …
OK. The AF system missed the eye by just a bit. But that is to be expected when photographing frantic action. The adult bird stands tall with its bill out of reach of the chicks. One chick will jump up, grab the adult’s bill, and yank down on it. All hell breaks loose as the other chick or chicks in the nest try to get in on the action. If anyone using a mirrorless camera body with eye detection tell you that their camera will track the eye perfectly no matter how frenzied the action, ask them to send you ten consecutively numbered raw files and to copy me.
The AF eye-tracking performance of the a1 and the sharpness of today’s featured image both astounded me. That in an almost impossible situation.
Click on the image to better see the green eye-AF boxes in action.
Sony Alpha 1 Flight Photography AF Points!
The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up Guide and Info Group: $150.00 (or Free)
The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up Guide and Info Group is going great guns as more and more folks chime in with thoughtful questions and experience-based answers. As the a1 is becoming more readily available, more and more folks are getting their hands on this amazing body. By early April, the group was up to an astounding 115 lucky and blessed folks. Early on, we discussed the myriad AF options. I gave my opinion as to the best one for flight and general bird photography. The best news is that everyone in the group receives an e-mail that includes a .DAT file with my a1 settings on it, and explicit directions on how to load my settings onto your a1; talk about convenience! I am now offering a .DAT file compatible with firmware update 1.20. Your entry into the group includes a consolidated Sony a1 CAMSETA2 INFO & GUIDE. New a1 folks will now receive four e-mails instead of the previous 28! You will see new e-mails as they are published. Simply put, this e-mail guide is an incredible resource for anyone with an a1.
All who purchased their Alpha 1 bodies via a BAA affiliate link — B&H or Bedfords — will receive a free Sony Alpha a1 Set-Up Guide and free entry into the Info Updates group after shooting me their receipts via e-mail. (Note: it may take me several days to confirm B&H orders.). Others can purchase their guide here in the BAA Online Store.
Image #1B: RawDigger screen capture for the Great Egret: large chick getting fed image
Ho Hum, Another Perfect Exposure
What can I say? The combination of Zebras live in the viewfinder (with your camera set up properly) and post-capture study of the raw files in RawDigger makes it pretty much child’s play to come up with perfect exposure after perfect exposure. It would be impossible to overstate how much I have learned by studying RawDigger and how much better my exposures have become since I started with the program almost two years ago. The G channel for today’s featured is 2/3rds of the way from the 8000 line to the 16000 line. In other words, the raw file brightness is perfect.
RawDigger — not for the faint of heart …
Nothing has ever helped me learn to create perfect exposures to the degree that RawDigger has. I think that many folks are reluctant to learn that most of their images are underexposed by one or more full stops and that highlight warnings in Photoshop, Lightroom, Capture One, and your in-camera histogram are bogus as they are based on the embedded JPEGs. Only your raw files tell the truth all the time. Heck, I resisted RawDigger for several years … Once you get over that feeling, RawDigger can become your very best exposure friend no matter what system you are using. On the recent IPTs and In-the-Field sessions, we have demonstrated that fact. Convincingly.
The RawDigger Adapted (pink) Histogram
In the RawDigger e-Guide, you will learn exactly how to set up the Adapted “pink” RawDigger Histogram and how to use it to quickly and easily evaluate the exposure or raw file brightness of images from all digital cameras currently in use. RawDigger was especially helpful to me as I have struggled with R5 exposures and learned my new camera body, the Sony Alpha a1.
RawDigger e-Guide with Two Videos
The RawDigger e-Guide with Two Videos
by Arthur Morris with Patrick Sparkman
The RawDigger e-Guide was created only for serious photographers who wish to get the absolute most out of their raw files.
Patrick and I began work on the guide in July 2020. At first, we struggled. We asked questions. We learned about Max-G values. We puzzled as to why the Max G values for different cameras were different. IPT veteran Bart Deamer asked lots of questions that we could not answer. We got help from RawDigger creator Iliah Borg. We learned. In December, Patrick came up with an Adapted Histogram that allows us to evaluate the exposures and raw file brightness for all images created with all digital camera bodies from the last two decades. What we learned each time prompted three complete beginning to end re-writes.
The point of the guide is to teach you to truly expose to the mega-Expose-to-the-Right so that you will minimize noise, maximize image quality, best utilize your camera’s dynamic range, and attain the highest possible level of shadow detail in your RAW files in every situation. In addition, your properly exposed RAW files will contain more tonal information and feature the smoothest possible transitions between tones. And your optimized images will feature rich, accurate color.
We teach you why the GREEN channel is almost always the first to over-expose. We save you money by advising you which version of RawDigger you need. We teach you how to interpret the Max G values for your Canon, Nikon, and SONY camera bodies. It is very likely that the Shock-your-World section will shock you. And lastly — thanks to the technical and practical brilliance of Patrick Sparkman — we teach you a simple way to evaluate your exposures and the raw file brightness quickly and easily the Adapted RawDigger histogram.
The flower video takes you through a session where artie edits a folder of images in Capture One while checking the exposures and Max-G values in RawDigger. The Adapted Histogram video examines a series of recent images with the pink histograms and covers lots of fine points including and especially how to deal with specular highlights. The directions for setting up the Adapted Histogram are in the text.
If we priced this guide based on how much effort we put into it, it would sell it for $999.00. But as this guide will be purchased only by a limited number of serious photographers, we have priced it at $51.00. You can order yours here in the BAA Online Store.
Be sure to click on the JPEG to view the high-res file and note the incredible sharpening of the large chick’s eye (on our right).
Image #1C: Topaz Sharpen AI Before & After screen capture for the large chick’s eye from the Great Egret: large chick getting fed image
Topaz Sharpen AI
Be sure to click on the screen capture to see the increase in sharpness (at 200%) in the After image on our right. That without any degradation of image quality.
As regular readers know, I run DeNoise AI on every image that I process immediately after executing the crop. For images made in sunny conditions, I used Standard. For images made in low light, I use Low Light. In the very recent blog post here, you saw the incredible results on an ISO 5000 Gatorland image. You can check all four methods by using the Comparison View, but I rarely do that anymore as I am confident as noted above.
I never use Sharpen AI on the whole image. I always sharpen small parts of the image selectively as I did with today’s featured image. I selected the large chick’s eye, the fish, and the face of the adult with a Quick Mask. Unlike previous version of Sharpen AI, the latest version of Sharpen AI — with both Auto icons selected (the yellow buttons with the lightning bolt symbol to out left) sets never selects Motion Blur. It always sets Standard and selects Lens Blur even when motion blur is evident. The results with either one are superb so who’s to argue?
Great Topaz News!
Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plug-ins), will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. If the stuff is on sale (as it usually is), you save 15% off the sale price! To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.
Those who purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or any other Topaz plug-ins using my link and then entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. Please include a copy of your Topaz receipt that shows the discount. Aside from the basics, the guide explains how to install the plug-ins so that they appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu.
Click on the composite image to enjoy the incredible quality of the hi-res JPEG.
Clockwise from upper left clockwise and back around to the center: Royal Tern in flight with squid for chick; Royal Tern chick on beach; Royal Tern in flight with shrimp for young; Royal Tern chick — double overhead wing stretch; Royal Tern landing with greenback for chick; Royal Tern in flight with juvenile mahi mahi for chick; Brown Pelican — large chick preening; Laughing Gull in fresh juvenal plumage; Royal Tern chick begging; Many Royal Terns with many chicks on face of dune.
Jacksonville IPT: #1: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of 16 June thru the morning of MON 20 June 2022: $2,099.00. (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #2: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of FRI 1 JULY thru the morning of TUES 5 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #3: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of FRI 15 JULY thru the morning of TUES 19 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers/Openings: 5)
Ride with me: add $200.00. I do not like to disappoint: each trip will run with one participant. If necessary.
I first visited the breeding bird colony at Jacksonville in late June 2021. I was astounded. There were many thousands of pairs of Royal Terns nesting along with about 10,000 pairs of Laughing Gulls. In addition to the royals, there were some Sandwich Terns nesting. And there are several dozen pairs of Brown Pelicans nesting on the ground. Flight photography was non-stop astounding. And photographing the tern chicks was relatively easy. Folks could do the whole trip with the Sony 200-600, the Canon 100-500 RF, or the Nikon 500 PF or 200-500 VR. With a TC in your pocket for use on sunny days. Most of the action is within 100 yards of where we park (on the beach). As with all bird photography, there are times when a super-telephoto lens with either TC is the best tool for the job.
Morning sessions will average about three hours, afternoon sessions about 1 1/2 hours. On cloudy mornings with favorable winds, we may opt to stay out for one long session and skip the afternoon, especially when the afternoon forecast is poor. Lunch is included on the first three days of the IPT and will be served at my AirBnB. After the first lunch there will be an introductory program. On days two and three we will do image review and Photoshop after lunch.
We will be based somewhere west and a bit north of Jacksonville where there are many AirBnB possibilities. The deposit is $599.00. Call Jim at the office any weekday at 863-692-0906 to pay by credit card. Balances must be paid by check.
What You Will Learn on a Jacksonville IPT
1- First and foremast you will learn to become a better flight photographer. Much better.
2-You will learn the basics and fine points of digital exposure. Nikon and Canon folks will learn to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure, and SONY folks will learn to use Zebras so that they can be sure of making excellent exposures before pressing the shutter button.
3- You will learn to work in Manual exposure mode even if you fear it.
4- You will learn to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography, especially the photography of birds in flight.
5- You will learn several pro secrets (for each system) that will help you to become a better flight photographer.
6- You will learn to zoom out in advance (because the birds are so close!) 🙂
7- You will learn how to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
8- You will learn to spot the good and the great situations.
9- You will learn to understand and predict bird behavior.
10- You will learn to design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
11- You will learn to choose the best perspective.
12- You will learn to see and control your backgrounds.
13- You will learn to see and understand the light.
14- You will learn to see and create pleasing blurs in pre-dawn situations.
15- You will learn to be ready for the most likely event.
And the best news is that you will be able to take everything you learn home with you so that you will be a better photographer wherever you are and whenever you photograph.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
I had an interesting morning down by the lake. It was a beautiful morning with lots of small, fluffy white clouds and the sun going in and out. I spent some more quality time with the no-longer-a-baby Sandhill Crane (but I did not get anything nearly as good as today’s featured image). The adults stumbled upon a killdeer nest with eggs and the killdeer went nuts as expected. At the end of the South Peninsula, I saw the two adults with the two large colts. One of the adults had been on vacation (MIA) for about two weeks. The last photos of the morning were of an adult eagle in a pine tree.
I was glad to learn that many-multiple IPT veteran John Dupps signed up for the Jacksonville #3 IPT.
Today is Saturday 14 May 2022. The forecast for Kissimmee is for mostly sunny with a gentle breeze from the E/NE. I am headed for Gatorland and may try to do some flight photography. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes sixty-four days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)
Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.
You can purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store for $69.00. Or Call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand.
The Nikon Z9 Guide for Wildlife Photographers
The Nikon Z9 Guide for Wildlife Photographers/by Warren Hatch
Editorial Consultant: Arthur Morris
In this downloadable e-book (you will receive a link by e-mail), you’ll learn everything a wildlife photographer needs to know about the Nikon Z9. The Z9 is one of the most complex camera bodies ever made. In this guide, the brilliant Warren Hatch will teach you exactly how to set up your Z9 for bird, wildlife, and nature photography. The camera offers hundreds of settings and options. Selecting the right combination of these is essential if you wish to effectively use the Z9 in the field.
1- Extensive information on the autofocus system and the optimal settings for the various shooting situations that wildlife photographers encounter including and especially for birds in flight.
2- The camera controls – what they do and how to customize them for your shooting style and varying conditions.
3- Configuring the camera so that you never need to take your eye from the viewfinder when the action unfolds.
5- Insights and details on using legacy F-mount lenses on the Z-9.
6- Practical advice about the camera batteries and chargers.
7- How to take advantage of the new capabilities introduced with firmware v2.00.
8- The AF-area Modes you should use and those you should avoid.
Learn more about the guide here. Order yours here in the BAA Online Store for $69.00. Or Call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand.
Wanting a Nikon Z9?
The best way to get your hands on a Z9 is to join NPS (Nikon Professional Services) and then send your member number to Steve Elkins at Bedford via e-mail. Nikon insists that Z9s (and other hard to get stuff) go to NPS members. You can get one from B&H, but they have a huge wait list …
And Please Remember
You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Brand-New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or to any prior purchases.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
Important Note
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link immediately above). My link works with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂
Please Remember Also
Please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will (still!) save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I lost about fifty thousand dollars in income due to COVID 19 — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes, are invited to help out by clicking here to leave a blog thank you gift if they see fit.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
This image was created on 11 May 2022 on the North Field at Indian Lake Estates, FL. Seated on the grass while watching out for fire ants, I used the ankle-pod technique with the Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. ISO 640. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/1000 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead-solid perfect. AWB at 7:53:18am on a sunny morning in the shade of a shelter.
Tracking: Zone with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #1: Sandhill Crane adult feeding small colt
Learning From My Mistake: The Second Time is the Charm!
Last week I had some similar chances with the same colt. I used the ankle-pod technique at 840mm with a shutter speed of 1/500 second; none of the images were sharp. So, on Wednesday, I doubled the shutter speed, and all was well with the world.
I have been trying for this shot without success for two decades. One of the birds was always facing away. I am very happy with this one but wish that the prey item had been a big fat juicy mole cricket instead of a small grub. You can’t have everything! But you can always hope for it.
Critique This Image
All are invited to leave a short critique of today’s featured image. Many folks say, “I am not qualified to critique a photo.” I do not buy that. You look at the image. What is your overall impression of the photo? Do you like it? What do you like? What don’t you like? Could the image have been improved in the field? Could it have been improved on the computer? Either way, explain how.
Click on the composite image to enjoy the incredible quality of the hi-res JPEG.
Clockwise from upper left clockwise and back around to the center: Royal Tern in flight with squid for chick; Royal Tern chick on beach; Royal Tern in flight with shrimp for young; Royal Tern chick — double overhead wing stretch; Royal Tern landing with greenback for chick; Royal Tern in flight with juvenile mahi mahi for chick; Brown Pelican — large chick preening; Laughing Gull in fresh juvenal plumage; Royal Tern chick begging; Many Royal Terns with many chicks on face of dune.
Jacksonville IPT: #1: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of 16 June thru the morning of MON 20 June 2022: $2,099.00. (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #2: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of FRI 1 JULY thru the morning of TUES 5 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #3: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of FRI 15 JULY thru the morning of TUES 19 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers/Openings: 5)
Ride with me: add $200.00. I do not like to disappoint: each trip will run with one participant. If necessary.
I first visited the breeding bird colony at Jacksonville in late June 2021. I was astounded. There were many thousands of pairs of Royal Terns nesting along with about 10,000 pairs of Laughing Gulls. In addition to the royals, there were some Sandwich Terns nesting. And there are several dozen pairs of Brown Pelicans nesting on the ground. Flight photography was non-stop astounding. And photographing the tern chicks was relatively easy. Folks could do the whole trip with the Sony 200-600, the Canon 100-500 RF, or the Nikon 500 PF or 200-500 VR. With a TC in your pocket for use on sunny days. Most of the action is within 100 yards of where we park (on the beach). As with all bird photography, there are times when a super-telephoto lens with either TC is the best tool for the job.
Morning sessions will average about three hours, afternoon sessions about 1 1/2 hours. On cloudy mornings with favorable winds, we may opt to stay out for one long session and skip the afternoon, especially when the afternoon forecast is poor. Lunch is included on the first three days of the IPT and will be served at my AirBnB. After the first lunch there will be an introductory program. On days two and three we will do image review and Photoshop after lunch.
We will be based somewhere west and a bit north of Jacksonville where there are many AirBnB possibilities. The deposit is $599.00. Call Jim at the office any weekday at 863-692-0906 to pay by credit card. Balances must be paid by check.
What You Will Learn on a Jacksonville IPT
1- First and foremast you will learn to become a better flight photographer. Much better.
2-You will learn the basics and fine points of digital exposure. Nikon and Canon folks will learn to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure, and SONY folks will learn to use Zebras so that they can be sure of making excellent exposures before pressing the shutter button.
3- You will learn to work in Manual exposure mode even if you fear it.
4- You will learn to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography, especially the photography of birds in flight.
5- You will learn several pro secrets (for each system) that will help you to become a better flight photographer.
6- You will learn to zoom out in advance (because the birds are so close!) 🙂
7- You will learn how to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
8- You will learn to spot the good and the great situations.
9- You will learn to understand and predict bird behavior.
10- You will learn to design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
11- You will learn to choose the best perspective.
12- You will learn to see and control your backgrounds.
13- You will learn to see and understand the light.
14- You will learn to see and create pleasing blurs in pre-dawn situations.
15- You will learn to be ready for the most likely event.
And the best news is that you will be able to take everything you learn home with you so that you will be a better photographer wherever you are and whenever you photograph.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
It was chilly and beyond breezy on Thursday morning. Despite the 20mph NW wind, I had fun and made a few good images. Many dozens of Great Egrets were flying from south to north past the pier, so I took a walk with the handheld 600 f/4, the 1.4X TC, and an a1. I must say, I am getting much better at handheld flight photography with the big lens. The more that I practice, the easier it becomes. Go figure …
I will be listing a Canon 500mm f/4L IS II lens on the Used Gear Page soon. If you are seriously interested, please contact me by e-mail.
Today is Friday 13 May 2022. Uh-oh! The morning forecast is for partly sunny to partly cloudy with a gentle NE breeze. It will be down to the lake for me. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes sixty-three days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
Last Two Gatorland In-the-Field Sessions
Saturday 14 May & Saturday 21 May 2022. 7:00 to 9:00am: $200.00/person
Two hours of intensive instruction. Cheap! You need to have a season photo pass or purchase one for that date to enter. If you are interested, please contact me ASAP via e-mail.
2022 Gatorland Photographer’s Pass Program
Though the 2022 Gatorland Photographer’s Pass Program (GPPP) is much improved from last year’s program, it falls well short of the great program that was in effect BC (Before Covid). I am hoping that the program will be restored to its former greatness next year. This year’s program included ten scheduled days. There are two remaining. With a pass, you can get into the park at 7:00 am instead of the normal 10:00 am entry time.
You can make reservations here on the Gatorland website, or by calling 407-855-5496 ext. 226 during business hours with your credit card in hand. There is no late stay option this year. The price is $25.00 + tax per visit and includes early entry at 7:00 AM at the SOUTH ENTRANCE. All tickets are date specific and non-transferable. You will not be able to leave until 10:00am when Gatorland opens.
Choose from the remaining 2022 dates:
May 14, 2022
May 21, 2022
This image was created on 8 May 2022 at Gatorland in Kissimmee, FL. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter (at 400mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 5000: 1/1000 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:22:45am in the shade on a sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot/S with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Snowy Egret feeding chick
Shooting Through and Around the Greenery
Take a close look at the heads of the two birds and you will see that each is partially blocked by out-of-focus vegetation. None-the-less, both eyes are in the clear. And we have a good look at the action. Crouching down, I could not get any lower as my left forearm rested on the boardwalk railing. Had I moved either left or right, the obstructions would have been fatal. Many of the images in the feeding sequence were ruined because vegetation blocked the eyes.
Learn more at the Finding the Clear Slot blog post here.
Why 1/1000 Second
Why did I choose such a high shutter speed?
Once I was at 1/1000 second, I simply dialed up the ISO until Zebras appeared on the brightest whites of the adult. Topaz DeNoise — see below, is so good that I do not concern myself with high ISO noise.
Topaz DeNoise
Be sure to let the animated GIF play to see how effective DeNoise AI and Sharpen AI was on today’s featured image. I remember how thrilled we were when we learned that we could push Fuji Velvia (film) one stop to ISO 100!
As regular readers know, I run DeNoise on virtually every image that I process as the very first step in my Photoshop workflow. For images made in sunny conditions, I used Standard. For images made in low light, I use Low Light. You can check all four methods by using the Comparison View, but I rarely do that anymore as I am confident as noted above. After that was done, I selected the eyes and eyeskins of the two birds, put them on a layer, and applied Sharpen AI with both AUTO buttons activated. Then I reduced the Opacity of that layer to 80%. The results as you can see above were totally amazing.
Great Topaz News!
Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plug-ins), will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. If the stuff is on sale (as it usually is), you save 15% off the sale price! To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.
Those who purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or any other Topaz plug-ins using my link and then entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. Please include a copy of your Topaz receipt that shows the discount. Aside from the basics, the guide explains how to install the plug-ins so that they appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Early on Wednesday I was working hard on the final edit of Warren Hatch’s Z9 guide, so I did not get down to the lake until 7:45am. I was home to get back to work by 8:15! In about twenty minutes of photography with a bad wind (NW), I made some very good images and kept 21 including my best-ever adult crane feeding young image. I was stoked by that one and will share it with you here soon. Or you can check it out on Facebook now.
Today is Thursday 12 May 2022. The forecast for this morning is the same as it was yesterday: clear with the breeze from the NW. I will head down to the lake early to check things out. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about three hours and two months (of working on the guide) to prepare and makes sixty-two days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
Wanting a Nikon Z9?
The best way to get your hands on a Z9 is to join NPS (Nikon Professional Services) and then send your member number to Steve Elkins at Bedford via e-mail. Nikon insists that Z9s (and other hard to get stuff) go to NPS members. You can get one from B&H but they have a huge wait list …
Brand-New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or to any prior purchases.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
You can purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store for $69.00. Or Call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand.
The Nikon Z9 Guide for Wildlife Photographers
The Nikon Z9 Guide for Wildlife Photographers/by Warren Hatch
Editorial Consultant: Arthur Morris
In this downloadable e-book (you will receive a link by e-mail), you’ll learn everything a wildlife photographer needs to know about the Nikon Z9. The Z9 is one of the most complex camera bodies ever made. In this guide, the brilliant Warren Hatch will teach you exactly how to set up your Z9 for bird, wildlife, and nature photography. The camera offers hundreds of settings and options. Selecting the right combination of these is essential in order to effectively use the Z9 in the field.
1- Extensive information on the autofocus system and the optimal settings for the various shooting situations that wildlife photographers encounter including and especially for birds in flight.
2- The camera controls – what they do and how to customize them for your shooting style and varying conditions.
3- Configuring the camera so that you never need to take your eye from the viewfinder when the action unfolds.
5- Insights and details on using legacy F-mount lenses on the Z-9.
6- Practical advice about the camera batteries and chargers.
7- How to take advantage of the new capabilities introduced with firmware v2.00.
8- The AF-area Modes you should use and those you should avoid.
Order yours here in the BAA Online Store for $69.00. Or Call Jim weekdays at 863-692-0906 with a credit card in hand.
I was excited to learn that Warren had written a guide to the Nikon Z9 as I have been learning so much about the camera from him. I’ve had the Z9 for several months. Whenever I was puzzled by my new mirrorless camera body, I’d call Warren. He always had the answer. Now, everything that he knows about this great camera body — it continues to amaze me, is available to everyone. Warren’s Z9 guide is great asset for Nikon shooters.
Image #2: Bald Eagle juvenile turning in flight/cropped from a horizontal original
The Backstory
I’d been thinking about trying to find someone competent to write a Z9 for BIRDS AS ART ever since I heard that Nikon had released a mirrorless camera that was great for bird photography. Warren Hatch attended an IPT several decades ago, learned the basics, and was inspired by the original The Art of Bird Photography. When a participant on the last 2022 Homer IPT had to leave early, Warren joined the IPT for several days. He raved about his Z9. After he told me about the work he had done extracting metadata for the last ten years of Nikon camera bodies for ExifTool, I was pretty sure that I had found the author I needed for a Z9 guide …
When I broached the subject of doing a Z9 guide for BIRDS AS ART, he did not seem too thrilled. But I talked him into it. We sent him a few of my Camera User’s Guides for reference. I was shocked when he sent me a link to his first draft in what seemed like only a week. Even better, the layout and design of the document was beyond impressive. I was busy getting ready for the GNPA EXPO (and then came home with COVID) so it took me a while to get into it. As the editorial consultant, my job was to bust Warren’s b____s when it came to clarity and readability. So I did. We exchanged three or four edited versions, each one a great improvement from the previous version. When we were almost done, Warren enlisted the help of Kaitlin Marks-Dubbs who did a professional job of copy editing the document. The last step was to send the final draft to the esteemed and talented lifelong Nikon shooter Alan Murphy who gave the project his blessings. That brings us to the publication of The Nikon Z9 Guide for Wildlife Photographers by Warren Hatch. 🙂
Image #4: Coyote with magnificent winter coat in snow
So Who the Heck is Warren Hatch?
When it comes to Nikon camera bodies and nature photography, Warren Hatch is not chopped liver.
Warren retired from the information technology field eight years ago. He began as a computer programmer and retired as the Chief Information Officer of a multibillion-dollar consulting firm. He has been photographing full-time since then. His images have been honored by Audubon, Nature’s Best, and other international photo contests. Like me, photography is both his profession and his passion. For decades, Warren has made a concerted effort to understand what each and every camera body feature does and believes that his in-depth knowledge of his cameras’ buttons, dials, and capabilities has improved his photography.
Because of his close ties to Nikon, Warren was one of the first in the US to get his hands on a Z9. Not to mention a Nikon NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens!
For the past ten years, Warren has extracted the encrypted metadata from the Nikon NEF (raw) files for all Nikon professional camera bodies. The metadata contains the camera settings that include detailed autofocus information that is not available in Nikon’s NX Studio. He shares the extracted metadata with Phil Harvey who uses it in his hugely popular ExifTool software.
Homer 2022 Bald Eagle Highlights and Handholding Compositional Tips by Arthur Morris/BIRDS AS ART
Enjoy and be inspired by just a few Homer Bald Eagle highlight images. Hand holding intermediate telephoto lens will always yield slightly different compositions. Learn more about that topic in this short (3:14) video.
All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK
2023 Homer/Kachemak Bay Bald Eagle IPTs
IPT #1: MON 20 FEB 2023 through the full day on FRI 24 FEB 2023. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers
IPT #2: SAT 25 FEB 2023 through the full day on THURS 2 MAR 2023. Six full days/24 hours on the boat: $6600.00. Limit 5 photographers/Openings: 4.
IPT #3: FRI 3 MAR 2023 through the full day on TUES 7 MAR 2023. Five full days/20 hours on the boat: $5500.00. Limit 5 photographers.Openings: 4.
Save $1,000.00 by doing back-to-back trips. Save $1500.00 by doing all three.
These trips feature non-stop flight photography as well as many opportunities to create both environmental and point-blank portraits of one of North America’s most sought-after avian subjects: Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Other reliable subjects will include Sea Otter, Glaucous-winged and Short-billed (formerly Mew) Gulls.
In addition, we should see Common Murre, Black Guillemot, Pelagic Cormorant, two or three species of loons, and a smattering of ducks including two species of merganser, all three scoters, Common and Barrow’s Goldeneyes, Bufflehead, Harlequin, and Long-tailed Ducks. Close-range photographic chances for these species will require a ton of good luck. Some of these species, especially when in flocks, can, however, often be used effectively when pleasing creating bird-scapes.
If we need to be out early, we will be the first boat out. If conditions are great, we will stay out. And when there is a chance for sunset silhouettes, we will be in the right spot.
We will be traveling through gorgeous wilderness country; landscape and scenic opportunities abound.
Also featured is a professional leader, often referred to as the world’s most knowledgeable bird photography trip leader, who is conversant in Canon, Nikon, and Sony. You will learn practical and creative solutions to everyday photographic problems. You will learn to see the shot, to create dynamic images by fine-tuning your compositions, to best utilize your camera’s AF system, and how to analyze the wind, the sky conditions, and the direction and quality of the light. This is one of the very few trips Homer trips available where you will not be simply put on the birds and told to have fun. You will learn to be a better photographer. But only if that is what you want.
You will learn to get the right exposure when it is sunny, when it cloudy-bright, when it is cloudy, when it is cloudy-dark, or when it is foggy. Not to mention getting the right exposure when creating silhouettes.
You will learn to make pleasing blurs working in manual mode and to create silhouettes working in Shutter Priority mode.
Most importantly you will learn to pick your best flight images from tens of thousands of images.
You will enjoy working with the two best and most creative boat captains on their sturdy, photography-spacious, seaworthy, open-deck crafts.
The second and third IPTs are the only Bald Eagle workshops that feature an incredibly helpful first mate.
Only five photographers (not the usual six), plus the leader.
Small group Photoshop, Image Review, and Image Critiquing sessions.
All images from Homer or Kachemak Bay, AK
What’s Included
One four hour or two two-hour boat trips every day (weather permitting), all boat fees and boat-related expenses (excluding tips), ground transportation to and from the dock and back to the hotel each day, in-the-field instruction and guidance, pre-trip gear advice, small group post-processing and image review sessions, and a thank you dinner for all well-behaved participants.
What’s Not Included
Your airfare to and from Homer, AK (via Anchorage), the cost of your room at Land’s End Resort, all personal items, all meals and beverages, and tips for the boat captain and/or the first mate.
Please Note
On great days, the group may wish to photograph for more than four hours. If the total time on the boat exceeds 20 hours for the five-day trips, or 24 hours for the second trip, the group will share the additional expense at a rate of $225/hour.
Some folks may wish to rent their own vehicle to take advantage of local photographic opportunities around Homer.
Deposit Information
A $3000 non-refundable deposit/trip is required. You may pay your deposit with credit card or by personal check (made out to BIRDS AS ART) and sent via US mail only to Arthur Morris. PO Box 7245. Indian Lake Estates, FL 33855. Your balance, due 90 days before the date of departure, is payable only by check as above.
In Closing
I have been going to Homer off and on for close to two decades. Every trip has been nothing short of fantastic. Many folks go in mid-March. The earlier you go, the better the chances for snow. The only way to assure that you are on the best of the three trips is to sign up for all of them. Can you keep up with me? If you have any questions, or are good to go for one, two, or all three trips, please let me know via e-mail or give me a call on my cell phone at 863-221-2372.
Jim and I left early on Tuesday morning for Stick Marsh and arrived at 6:15am. The forecast NE wind was replaced by a west wind. With clear skies, that is the kiss of death for bird photography. But it did not matter. I only saw four spoonbills, a few Anhingas, and a single Great Egret in flight. Even the vultures were not flying. It quickly became obvious that it was going to be a tough morning. I took a walk with the 200-600 G lens and came up with today’s two featured images.
Today is Wednesday 11 May 2022. The forecast for this morning at ILE is for sunny with an 8mph wind from the NW. In other words, pretty bad. I will likely head down to the lake just because. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes sixty-one days in a row with a new one.
BAA will be announcing the publication of Warren Hatch’s Nikon Z9 Camera User’s Guide this week. Edited for clarity and readability by yours truly.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
This image was created on 10 May 2022 at Stick Marsh, Fellsmere, FL. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 200mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 64: 1/8 second at f/8 (stopped down 2/3 stop) in Manual Mode. AWB at 6:56:26am on a clear morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be dead-solid perfect.
Tracking: Spot S and then locked focus by pressing and holding the AF-ON button. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Cabbage Palm stand: vertical pan blur
Why Pleasing Blurs?
1- Necessity is often the mother of design. When the light levels are so low that making sharp images would require ridiculous high ISOs, going the blur route is often the obvious (and only choice).
2- That was not the case with Image #2. But the strong vertical lines of the Cabbage Palms lining a canal caught my eye and the light levels were still low. The trick with images like this is the top-to-bottom framing. It is really difficult to judge when to press the shutter button so that you have a border of green on the bottom and a strip of sky at the top. So what’s the answer? Make lots of frames and replay the images occasionally to see how you are doing. I saw on the back of the camera that the framing for this one was perfect and it looked to me like a Monet X Picasso hybrid.
3- In many situations when the sun is shining and there is lots of light, sharp images of big flocks of birds have little appeal to me. Such images are often ruined by shadows. My answer is to add a 3- to 5-stop ND into the equation and create pleasing blurs.
4- Pleasing blurs that are well done can be quite artistic while implying a sense of motion. They often do quite well in international and other photo contests.
5- I have fun doing them and often love the results.
A Guide to Pleasing Blurs
Learn everything there is to know about creating pleasingly blurred images in A Guide to Pleasing Blurs by Denise Ippolito and yours truly. This 20,585-word, 271-page PDF is illustrated with 144 different, exciting, and artistic images. The guide covers the basics of creating pleasingly blurred images, the factors that influence the degree of blurring, the use of filters in creating pleasing blurs, and a great variety of both in-the-field and Photoshop techniques that can be used to create pleasingly blurred images.
Artie and Denise teach you many ways to move your lens during the exposure to create a variety of pleasingly blurred images of flowers and trees and water and landscapes. They will teach you to recognize situations where subject movement can be used to your advantage to create pan blurs, wind blurs, and moving water blurs. They will teach you to create zoom-blurs both in the field and during post-processing. Artie shares the techniques that he has used and developed for making blurred images of flocks of geese in flight at his (formerly) beloved Bosque del Apache and Denise shares her flower blur magic as well as a variety of creative Photoshop techniques that she has developed.
With the advent of digital capture creating blurred images has become a great and inexpensive way to go out with your camera and have fun, especially when there is not much light. And while many folks think that making successful blurred images is the result of being a sloppy photographer, nothing could be further from the truth. In “A Guide to Pleasing Blurs” Artie and Denise will help you to unleash your creative self.
Click on the image to better read the fine print.
Image #1A: RawDigger screen capture for the Cabbage Palm stand: vertical pan blur image
Can an Image with 1,903,000 OverExposed Pixels be a Perfect Exposure?
In a word, yes. There are many instances where you need to completely blow out the sky to avoid under-exposing the subject, be it a row of trees (as above) or a dark-toned bird in flight or perched against a light sky. The key to exposure success here was to adjust the exposure parameters so that I had a few Zebras on the light-toned trunks of the cabbage palms (and forget about the over-exposed sky). RawDigger rocks. See more below.
This image was also created on 10 May 2022 at Stick Marsh, Fellsmere, FL. Seated on the damp grass, I used the knee-pod technique with the handheld Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 2000: 1/250 second at f/6.3 (wide open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 7:03:23am in the shade of a raised roadway on a clear morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be dead-solid perfect.
Tracking: Spot S AF-C with Bird Face//Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Limpkin recently-fledged juvenile
Getting the Right Exposure with Sony
It is so easy that it is almost funny. You set the aperture — with the 200-600 that is almost always f/6.3. Then you set the shutter speed. Knowing that I would be trying for a head portrait at 600mm, I went with 1/250 sec. I could have pushed that to 1/125 as I was using the knee pod technique. But Topaz DeNoise is so effective at ISO 2000 that it really did not matter. Once you have set the aperture and the shutter speed you raise the shutter speed with the thumb dial. When you start to see Zebras on the highlights — in this case the whitish chin and feather centers, you know that you have a perfect exposure (as long as you have your camera set up correctly). It’s that simple — dial up the ISO till you see and few blinkies and you are good to go. Perfect exposures every time with little effort.
The Limpkin Family
I had seen the Limpkin family with four large young on my previous visit to Stick Marsh. I found them early on Tuesday along the edge of a canal. Thought they were tame, they were not cooperative subjects. I was lucky to have this juvenile stand still in the marsh grasses for a few seconds. Topaz DeNoise is so effective that I have no concerns while raising the ISO to get perfect exposures. The combination of Zebra’s and RawDigger has made my exposure life a lot easier.
Click on the image to better read the fine print.
Image #2A: RawDigger screen capture for the Limpkin recently-fledged juvenile image
RawDigger
It would be impossible to over-state how much I have learned by studying RawDigger and how much better my exposures have become since I started with the program almost two years ago. The raw file brightness for Image #2 is dead solid perfect with the G channel just inside the 16000 line. The 2 OvExp pixels out of 51,000,000 are not exactly going to hurt the image. In other words, the raw file brightness is perfect.
RawDigger — not for the faint of heart …
Nothing has ever helped me learn to create perfect exposures to the degree that RawDigger has. I think that many folks are reluctant to learn that most of their images are underexposed by one or more full stops and that highlight warnings in Photoshop, Lightroom, Capture One, and your in-camera histogram are bogus as they are based on the embedded JPEGs. Only your raw files tell the truth all the time. Heck, I resisted RawDigger for several years … Once you get over that feeling, RawDigger can become your very best exposure friend no matter what system you are using. On the recent IPTs and In-the-Field sessions, we have demonstrated that fact. Convincingly.
The RawDigger (pink) Adapted Histogram
In the RawDigger e-Guide, you will learn exactly how to set up the Adapted “pink” RawDigger Histogram and how to use it to quickly and easily evaluate the exposure or raw file brightness of images from all digital cameras currently in use. RawDigger was especially helpful to me as I have struggled with R5 exposures and learned my new camera body, the Sony Alpha a1.
RawDigger e-Guide with Two Videos
The RawDigger e-Guide with Two Videos
by Arthur Morris with Patrick Sparkman
The RawDigger e-Guide was created only for serious photographers who wish to get the absolute most out of their raw files.
Patrick and I began work on the guide in July 2020. At first, we struggled. We asked questions. We learned about Max-G values. We puzzled as to why the Max G values for different cameras were different. IPT veteran Bart Deamer asked lots of questions that we could not answer. We got help from RawDigger creator Iliah Borg. We learned. In December, Patrick came up with an Adapted Histogram that allows us to evaluate the exposures and raw file brightness for all images created with all digital camera bodies from the last two decades. What we learned each time prompted three complete beginning to end re-writes.
The point of the guide is to teach you to truly expose to the mega-Expose-to-the-Right so that you will minimize noise, maximize image quality, best utilize your camera’s dynamic range, and attain the highest possible level of shadow detail in your RAW files in every situation. In addition, your properly exposed RAW files will contain more tonal information and feature the smoothest possible transitions between tones. And your optimized images will feature rich, accurate color.
We teach you why the GREEN channel is almost always the first to over-expose. We save you money by advising you which version of RawDigger you need. We teach you how to interpret the Max G values for your Canon, Nikon, and SONY camera bodies. It is very likely that the Shock-your-World section will shock you. And lastly — thanks to the technical and practical brilliance of Patrick Sparkman — we teach you a simple way to evaluate your exposures and the raw file brightness quickly and easily the Adapted RawDigger histogram.
The flower video takes you through a session where artie edits a folder of images in Capture One while checking the exposures and Max-G values in RawDigger. The Adapted Histogram video examines a series of recent images with the pink histograms and covers lots of fine points including and especially how to deal with specular highlights. The directions for setting up the Adapted Histogram are in the text.
If we priced this guide based on how much effort we put into it, it would sell it for $999.00. But as this guide will be purchased only by a limited number of serious photographers, we have priced it at $51.00. You can order yours here in the BAA Online Store.
Click on the composite image to enjoy the incredible quality of the hi-res JPEG.
Clockwise from upper left clockwise and back around to the center: Royal Tern in flight with squid for chick; Royal Tern chick on beach; Royal Tern in flight with shrimp for young; Royal Tern chick — double overhead wing stretch; Royal Tern landing with greenback for chick; Royal Tern in flight with juvenile mahi mahi for chick; Brown Pelican — large chick preening; Laughing Gull in fresh juvenal plumage; Royal Tern chick begging; Many Royal Terns with many chicks on face of dune.
Jacksonville IPT: #1: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of 16 June thru the morning of MON 20 June 2022: $2,099.00. (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #2: the afternoon of FRI 1 JULY thru the morning of TUES 5 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #3: the afternoon of FRI 15 JULY thru the morning of TUES 19 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Ride with me: add $200.00. I do not like to disappoint: each trip will run with one participant. If necessary.
I first visited the breeding bird colony at Jacksonville in late June 2021. I was astounded. There were many thousands of pairs of Royal Terns nesting along with about 10,000 pairs of Laughing Gulls. In addition to the royals, there were some Sandwich Terns nesting. And there are several dozen pairs of Brown Pelicans nesting on the ground. Flight photography was non-stop astounding. And photographing the tern chicks was relatively easy. Folks could do the whole trip with the Sony 200-600, the Canon 100-500 RF, or the Nikon 500 PF or 200-500 VR. With a TC in your pocket for use on sunny days. Most of the action is within 100 yards of where we park (on the beach). As with all bird photography, there are times when a super-telephoto lens with either TC is the best tool for the job.
Morning sessions will average about three hours, afternoon sessions about 1 1/2 hours. On cloudy mornings with favorable winds, we may opt to stay out for one long session and skip the afternoon, especially when the afternoon forecast is poor. Lunch is included on the first three days of the IPT and will be served at my AirBnB. After the first lunch there will be an introductory program. On days two and three we will do image review and Photoshop after lunch.
We will be based somewhere west and a bit north of Jacksonville where there are many AirBnB possibilities. The deposit is $599.00. Call Jim at the office any weekday at 863-692-0906 to pay by credit card. Balances must be paid by check.
What You Will Learn on a Jacksonville IPT
1- First and foremast you will learn to become a better flight photographer. Much better.
2-You will learn the basics and fine points of digital exposure. Nikon and Canon folks will learn to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure, and SONY folks will learn to use Zebras so that they can be sure of making excellent exposures before pressing the shutter button.
3- You will learn to work in Manual exposure mode even if you fear it.
4- You will learn to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography, especially the photography of birds in flight.
5- You will learn several pro secrets (for each system) that will help you to become a better flight photographer.
6- You will learn to zoom out in advance (because the birds are so close!) 🙂
7- You will learn how to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
8- You will learn to spot the good and the great situations.
9- You will learn to understand and predict bird behavior.
10- You will learn to design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
11- You will learn to choose the best perspective.
12- You will learn to see and control your backgrounds.
13- You will learn to see and understand the light.
14- You will learn to see and create pleasing blurs in pre-dawn situations.
15- You will learn to be ready for the most likely event.
And the best news is that you will be able to take everything you learn home with you so that you will be a better photographer wherever you are and whenever you photograph.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Monday morning down by the lake was quite interesting. Several of the Osprey nests are overflowing with three large chicks. I tried to photograph at the best one and failed. The newest crane baby is already about half as large as its parent. For the past few days, I have not seen one of the two parent birds with the two large colts. I did see the eagle family flying around together for the first time. And a pair of Black-necked Stilts showed up just to the left of the pier.
There was a big hatch of the large mayflies overnight. I was surprised that only a single Cattle Egret was partaking of the feast. It was soon joined by the large crane colt family of three. I shot the whole gang. On what seemed like a slow morning for photography I created more than 1700 images. Why? I was trying to get head portraits of the crane colts with a mayfly in their bill at 1200mm and was taking full advantage of the 30 frames/second frame rate of the Sony a1. Then I got out of my SUV and tried the same with the hand held 200-600. Last was a Great Blue Heron standing on a dock at 1200mm.
The feeding Sandhill Cranes were moving quickly in all directions and as a result, about 90% of the images were badly mis-framed. I have no idea if I got even a single keeper … But you can’t win if you don’t play!
Today is Tuesday 10 May. As of Monday evening, I was not sure if I was going to Stick Marsh or down to the lake on Tuesday morning … Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes sixty days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
This Just In!
I kept 61 of 1703 images from Monday morning. If you are counting, that is a keeper rate of only .0358, less than 4%. I told you it was difficult. I did get a few decent ones of a crane with a mayfly, but the Cattle Egret images were far stronger. The two best of those with a mayfly are featured in today’s blog. In addition, I kept 18 vertical images of the Cattle Egret ruffling.
Your Favorite?
Which of today’s two very excellent images do you like best. I think that that is a tough call. If you leave a comment, please be sure to let us know why you made your choice.
Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART
Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission on items priced at $1,000 or more. With items less than $1000, there is a $50 flat-fee. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. If you are interested, please click here, read everything carefully, and do what it says. To avoid any misunderstandings, please read the whole thing very carefully. If you agree to the terms, please state so clearly via e-mail and include the template or templates, one for each item you wish to sell. Then we can work together to get your stuff priced and listed.
Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice only to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past years, we have sold many hundreds of items. Do know that prices for used gear only go in one direction. Down. You can always see the current listings by clicking here or on the Used Photo Gear tab on the orange-yellow menu bar near the top of each blog post page.
New Listings
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens with great extras!
Ted Keltz is offering a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens (with extras) in excellent condition for $1488.00. The sale includes the rear lens cap, the front lens cap, the lens hood, the tough fabric ens case, the original product box and manual, a LensCoat, a Canon Extender EF 1.4x II in like new-condition $429.00 new), a Canon 25 mm Extension Tube EF 25mm II in like new-condition ($144.95 new), and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. (Both accessories include the front and rear lens caps and the lens pouches.) Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
This incredibly versatile zoom lens — with its amazing .98 meter close focus — was my favorite Canon telephoto zoom lens ever. By far. It is easy to hand hold, great for tight portraits, for birds in flight, for quasi-macro stuff, and lots more. For flight, it is fabulous with an R5! This package sells new of $2972.95 so you can save an amazing $1584.95 by grabbing Ted’s lens with the great extras now. artie
Canon Extender EF 2X III
Sale Pending first day of listing
Ted Keltz is offering a is offering a Canon Extender EF 2X III (teleconverter) in like-new condition for $259.00. The sale includes the front and rear caps, the soft case, the original product box, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
As regular readers know, TCs are so important to what I do that I always travel with three 1.4X teleconverters and two 2X teleconverters. (Note: they do fail on occasion …) The 2X III sells new for $429.00. artie
This image was created on 9 May 2022 on the South Peninsula down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates. Working from the front seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebras technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800: 1/1600 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. The exposure was dead solid perfect when evaluated in RawDigger. AWB at 7:43:46am on a sunny morning.
Tracking: Upper Left Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Cattle Egret ready to swallow mayfly
Multiple Choice Quiz
Which of the following contributed most to the artistic success of Image #1?
a- it is razor-sharp on the bird’s eye
b- the exposure and processing are spot-on.
c- the light was sweet.
d- the bird was near the edge of a drop-off to the marsh below.
There was a bit of motion blur on the bird’s eye. I painted a Quick Mask of the eye and as expected, Topaz Sharpen AI rendered it much sharper at 80% without making a mess of things.
Great Topaz News!
As regular readers know, I run DeNoise on virtually every image that I process immediately after executing the crop with the Delete Cropped Pixels box checked. For images made in sunny conditions, I used Standard. For images made in low light, I use Low Light. You can check all four methods by using the Comparison View but I rarely do that any more as I am confident as noted above.
Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plug-ins), will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. If the stuff is on sale (as it usually is), you save 15% off of the sale price! To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.
Those who purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or any other Topaz plug-ins using my link and then entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. Please include a copy of your Topaz receipt that shows the discount. Aside from the basics, the guide explains how to install the plug-ins so that they appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu.
This image was created on 9 May 2022 on the South Peninsula down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates. Working from the front seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebras technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800: 1/1600 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. The exposure was dead solid perfect when evaluated in RawDigger. AWB at 7:43:49 am on a sunny morning.
Tracking: Upper Left Zone/AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Cattle Egret holding mayfly in bill tip
Three Seconds Later
Image #2 was made three seconds after Image #1. It would have made a nice sequence if the order had been reversed, but the background would have been a mismatch as the bird had walked to my left. In both images the sharpness of The Sony rig at 1200mm is astounding. I cannot believe that the mayfly posed so perfectly right before it became breakfast.
Click on the composite image to enjoy the incredible quality of the hi-res JPEG.
Clockwise from upper left clockwise and back around to the center: Royal Tern in flight with squid for chick; Royal Tern chick on beach; Royal Tern in flight with shrimp for young; Royal Tern chick — double overhead wing stretch; Royal Tern landing with greenback for chick; Royal Tern in flight with juvenile mahi mahi for chick; Brown Pelican — large chick preening; Laughing Gull in fresh juvenal plumage; Royal Tern chick begging; Many Royal Terns with many chicks on face of dune.
Jacksonville IPT: #1: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of 16 June thru the morning of MON 20 June 2022: $2,099.00. (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #2: the afternoon of FRI 1 JULY thru the morning of TUES 5 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #3: the afternoon of FRI 15 JULY thru the morning of TUES 19 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Ride with me: add $200.00. I do not like to disappoint: each trip will run with one participant. If necessary.
I first visited the breeding bird colony at Jacksonville in late June 2021. I was astounded. There were many thousands of pairs of Royal Terns nesting along with about 10,000 pairs of Laughing Gulls. In addition to the royals, there were some Sandwich Terns nesting. And there are several dozen pairs of Brown Pelicans nesting on the ground. Flight photography was non-stop astounding. And photographing the tern chicks was relatively easy. Folks could do the whole trip with the Sony 200-600, the Canon 100-500 RF, or the Nikon 500 PF or 200-500 VR. With a TC in your pocket for use on sunny days. Most of the action is within 100 yards of where we park (on the beach). As with all bird photography, there are times when a super-telephoto lens with either TC is the best tool for the job.
Morning sessions will average about three hours, afternoon sessions about 1 1/2 hours. On cloudy mornings with favorable winds, we may opt to stay out for one long session and skip the afternoon, especially when the afternoon forecast is poor. Lunch is included on the first three days of the IPT and will be served at my AirBnB. After the first lunch there will be an introductory program. On days two and three we will do image review and Photoshop after lunch.
We will be based somewhere west and a bit north of Jacksonville where there are many AirBnB possibilities. The deposit is $599.00. Call Jim at the office any weekday at 863-692-0906 to pay by credit card. Balances must be paid by check.
What You Will Learn on a Jacksonville IPT
1- First and foremast you will learn to become a better flight photographer. Much better.
2-You will learn the basics and fine points of digital exposure. Nikon and Canon folks will learn to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure, and SONY folks will learn to use Zebras so that they can be sure of making excellent exposures before pressing the shutter button.
3- You will learn to work in Manual exposure mode even if you fear it.
4- You will learn to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography, especially the photography of birds in flight.
5- You will learn several pro secrets (for each system) that will help you to become a better flight photographer.
6- You will learn to zoom out in advance (because the birds are so close!) 🙂
7- You will learn how to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
8- You will learn to spot the good and the great situations.
9- You will learn to understand and predict bird behavior.
10- You will learn to design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
11- You will learn to choose the best perspective.
12- You will learn to see and control your backgrounds.
13- You will learn to see and understand the light.
14- You will learn to see and create pleasing blurs in pre-dawn situations.
15- You will learn to be ready for the most likely event.
And the best news is that you will be able to take everything you learn home with you so that you will be a better photographer wherever you are and whenever you photograph.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Which of Today’s Two Featured Images Do You Like Best?
Why?
Click on the composite image to enjoy the incredible quality of the hi-res JPEG.
Clockwise from upper left back around to the center: spoonbill with mangrove background; spoonbill head and shoulders portrait; spoonbill braking to land; spoonbill dramatic landing pose; adult Black-crowned Night-Heron; spoonbill with nesting material; Great Egret returning to nest; incoming spoonbill; and Limpkin landing.
Last Chance for Stick Marsh In-the-Field Instruction
Tuesday 10 May: 6:45 to 9:15am. $250.00/person
Two 1/2 hours of intensive flight photography instruction: $250/person. Cheap! If you are interested, please contact me ASAP via e-mail and we can set up a session or two based on the weather forecast. The weather is looking fine for tomorrow.
From Anar Daswani via unsolicited e-mail:
Thanks so much for the two In-the-Field sessions. I appreciate all the knowledge and the guidance that you shared. I certainly feel like I am far better equipped to make stronger photos. Of course, there is always more to learn, and I definitely need a ton of practice. I learned a lot more from you in the two classes than I did in other, more expensive workshops. I truly appreciate your patience and kindness. I am excited about getting started with videos on a correct footing. And I can’t wait to go out and practice the pleasing blurs using all the techniques you have taught me. Not to mention getting the right exposure!
What’s Up?
Same old, same old at Gatorland on Sunday morning. Few photographable nests, few photographers, and some really good opportunities. There were more than a few fledged Tricolored Herons around; none cooperated for me. It kept threatening to cloud over, but the sun prevailed so I was on my way to the car by 8:30am. I took an early nap, did my bursts and a 44-length swim, had an early dinner, and took a one-mile walk. Use it or lose it 🙂
On my Friday walk, I missed the turtle laying eggs. On Saturday afternoon, I had a Swallow-tailed Kite and the young eagle flight right over my head. So from now on, I will walk with The Sony 70-200 II, the 2X TC, and an a1. On Sunday afternoon I created a lot of Osprey images on my walk. As the lens is very light I will take it every day and see if I get lucky.
Today is Monday 9 May 2022. The forecast for the morning is for sunny with a northeast breeze. I will surely head down to the lake for a bit. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes fifty-nine days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
Gatorland In-the-Field Session
Saturday 14 May & Saturday 21 May 2022. 7:00 to 9:00am: $200.00/person
Two hours of intensive instruction. Cheap! You need to have a season photo pass or purchase one for that date to enter. If you are interested, please contact me via e-mail. You can also learn exactly to make the better photographs at Gatorland in The BAA Middle of Florida Site Guide here .
BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)
Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.
And Please Remember
You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Brand-New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or to any prior purchases.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
Important Note
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link immediately above). My link works with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂
Please Remember Also
Please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will (still!) save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I lost about fifty thousand dollars in income due to COVID 19 — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes, are invited to help out by clicking here to leave a blog thank you gift if they see fit.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
This image was created on 8 May 2022 at Gatorland. Standing at full height, I used the no-longer available Induro GIT304L Stealth Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted-Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. ISO 1000. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/160 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the raw file was dead-solid perfect. AWB at 7:22:29am on a sunny morning in the shade of a shelter.
Tracking: Spot-S with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #2: Great Egret, large chick resting
Made in the Shade!
Folks often ask “What’s the best strategy for photographing birds on a bright sunny day? Many folks think that I am kidding when I answer, “Find some birds in the shade.” Fortunately, at Gatorland there are several wooden structures that provide varying degrees of shade on sunny mornings. Both of today’s images were of large Great Egret chicks in a well-shaded nest. I have been photographing the chicks in this very accessible nest for almost two months.
When I saw this nice juxtaposition, I put the tripod down in a spot that I thought might put the visible eye of each bird on the same plane. As this image was created at the wide-open aperture, I’d say that I hit that nail squarely on the head!
This image was also created on 8 May 2022 at Gatorland. Standing at full height, I again used the no-longer available Induro GIT304L Stealth Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted-Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. ISO 1000. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/160 sec. at f/7.1 (stopped down 2/3-stop) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the raw file was about 1/3 stop too dark. AWB at 7:32:14am on a sunny morning in the shade of a shelter.
Tracking: Spot-S with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #2: Great Egret, large chick resting
Working It …
When I first saw this neat pose, I was working with the big lens and the 1.4X TC. I fired off a single frame and then the bird woke up from its rest. I switched the1.4X for the 2X and waited for the bird to assume the position. It did. I had about forty images made with the 2X and just one with the 1.4X. I liked the extra room. I brightened the image by moving the Exposure slider to +0.25 during the raw conversion, warmed it up by moving the Temperature slider to 7000 to eliminate a BLUE cast, and took a bit off the left. The last steps were a bit of crud clean-up and selectively brightening the bill. It pays to create varied image designs.
Would you have eliminated the little buff triangle in the upper left corner? Why or why not? What words would you use to describe (the mood of) this image?
I believe that the bird in Image #2 is the bird on the left in Image #1. By the time these two chicks got fed, the nest was partially lit by bright sun. I will only very rarely make an image a bird or birds in that are both lit by the sun with parts of them in the shade …
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Before you scroll down, click on the original image immediately below to view the high-res JPEG that represents the TIF file that was created from the converted raw file. Take a good look at it. Then leave a comment and let us know how you might have optimized it. Then you can scroll down and see what I did with the too-tight flight shot.
This image was created on a San Diego IPT on 19 January 2022 at La Jolla, CA. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens (at 112mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. ISO 800: 1/2000 sec. at f/4 (stopped down one stop) in Manual mode. AWB at 12:09:47am on a cloudy morning.
Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Image #1: Brown Pelican 2-year-old in flight
112mm Full Frame Flight!
With the right wind, the absolutely amazing Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens can be used without a teleconverter to photograph the incoming pelicans at La Jolla. I will most often use the 1.4X TC for incoming flight, and go with the 2X TC when trying for the elusive head throws.
The variations in the plumage of both adult and sub-adult Pacific-race Brown Pelicans always amazes me. Every season, we see a several unique birds wearing plumage combinations that we have never seen before.
You zoomed out enough to avoid clipping any wings, but just barely. Before you scroll down, think about how you would process this image. Even if you do not leave a comment, you can learn a ton by just thinking it through.
What’s Up?
It was cloudy black at dawn, so I went down to the lake to check things out at 7:30am. I was glad to see that the Softshell Turtle nest appeared to be undisturbed. Then the sun came out. With a stiff SW wind, I headed home early. I watched and videoed some Honeybees tearing the stamens off a Magnolia blossom in my driveway. I watched lots of NBA and NHL playoff games while working on images and answering e-mails. Today is Sunday 8 May and I am headed to Gatorland to photograph Great Egret and Tricolored Heron chicks. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes fifty-eight days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
Wanted to Buy
If you have a Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III lens or an RF 600mm f/4 that you would like to unload for a good price, please get in touch via e-mail.
Selling Your Used Photo Gear Through BIRDS AS ART
Selling your used (or like-new) photo gear through the BAA Blog is a great idea. We charge only a 5% commission on items priced at $1,000 or more. With items less than $1000, there is a $50 flat-fee. One of the more popular used gear for sale sites charged a minimum of 20%. Plus assorted fees! Yikes. They went out of business. And e-Bay fees are now up to 13%. If you are interested, please click here, read everything carefully, and do what it says. To avoid any misunderstandings, please read the whole thing very carefully. If you agree to the terms, please state so clearly via e-mail and include the template or templates, one for each item you wish to sell. Then we can work together to get your stuff priced and listed.
Stuff that is priced fairly — I offer pricing advice only to those who agree to the terms — usually sells in no time flat. Over the past years, we have sold many hundreds of items. Do know that prices for used gear only go in one direction. Down. You can always see the current listings by clicking here or on the Used Photo Gear tab on the orange-yellow menu bar near the top of each blog post page.
New Listings
Canon EOS 7D Mark II with a great extra!
IPT veteran Sandra Calderbank is offering a Canon EOS 7D Mark II in like-new condition with only 4504 shutter actuations for a very low $649.00. The sale includes one battery and the charger, the strap, the original product box, and everything that came in it, a Really Right Stuff Modular Sliding L-Plate (RTS B702-L Set — a $150.00 value), and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Sandra via e-mail or by phone at 1-828-412-1047 Eastern time zone.
If you are looking to get started with a Canon dSLR, Sandy’s 7DII is for you. Both Patrick Sparkman and I used and loved the 7D Mark II until about two years ago when we both committed to using full-frame Canon bodies. We both made some truly great images with it. Two of my three 2016 Nature’s Best honored entries were created with the 7D II, one still, and one video. The 7D Mark II is one of the greatest-ever values in a digital camera body. artie
Canon Extender EF 1.4X III
IPT veteran Sandra Calderbank is offering a Canon Extender EF 1.4X III (teleconverter) in like-new condition for $249.00. The sale includes the front and rear caps, soft case, original product box and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Sandra via e-mail or by phone at 1-828-412-1047 Eastern time zone.
As regular readers know, TCs are so important to what I do that I always travel with three 1.4X teleconverters and two 2X teleconverters. (Note: they do fail on occasion …) artie
Canon Extender EF 2X III
IPT veteran Sandra Calderbank is offering a Canon Extender EF 2X III (teleconverter) in like-new condition for $259.00. The sale includes the front and rear caps, soft case, original product box and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Sandra via e-mail or by phone at 1-828-412-1047 Eastern time zone.
As regular readers know, TCs are so important to what I do that I always travel with three 1.4X teleconverters and two 2X teleconverters. (Note: they do fail on occasion …) artie
Canon EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM Lens
IPT veteran Sandra Calderbank is offering a Canon EF 24-105 f/4L IS USM lens (the original version) in like-new condition for a silly-low $249.00. The sale includes the front and rear caps, the soft case, the lens hood, the original product box, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Sandra via e-mail or by phone at 1-828-412-1047 Eastern time zone.
When I shot Canon, the original version of this lens was my never-leave-home-without-it all purpose zoom lens. Whenever I would leave it in the car, I would get 50 yards away and wished that I had it with me. It sells new for $1299.00 and is backordered in most places. artie
Two Canon 580 EX II Speedlights (flashes)
IPT veteran Sandra Calderbank is offering a pair of Canon 580 EX II Speedlights (flashes) in near-mint condition for a ridiculously low $249.00 (or $149.00 for one). The sale includes the soft cases, the stands, the original product boxes, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears unless other arrangements are made.
Please contact Sandra via e-mail or by phone at 1-828-412-1047 Eastern time zone.
Anyone looking to create a Canon multi-flash set-up for hummingbirds will want to grab both of Sandy’s 580 EX flashes ASAP. I think that I paid something like $600 apiece for mine when I shot Canon. artie
B&H Mother’s Day Specials
Click here or on the logo-link above to see a changing line-up of Mother’s Day Specials. You do not have to be a mother to click or to make a purchase!
BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)
Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.
This image was created on a San Diego IPT on 19 January 2022 at La Jolla, CA. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens (at 112mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with Exposure Compensation on the thumb dial. ISO 800: 1/2000 sec. at f/4 (stopped down one stop) in Manual mode. AWB at 12:09:47am on a cloudy morning.
Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: The optimized version of the Brown Pelican 2-year-old in flight image
The Image Optimization
For me, images like this with the bird steeply angled and tight in the frame scream for a square (or at least for a boxy) crop. I went with a perfect square.
1- I leveled the image and added canvas above and below in one fell swoop by using the Content-Aware Crop Tool. Tip: put the cursor outside of the crop mark and rotate the image as needed using the love handles.
2- I repaired the hole in one of the secondary feathers on the bird’s right wing using Content-Aware Fill.
3- I darkened the Pacific via the Color Mixer tab of the Camera Raw Filter. And yes, all the tabs and sliders in the Camera Raw Filter are available in Photoshop after the raw conversion.
This all-new card includes images created on my JAN 2022 visit to San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
The 2022/23 San Diego Brown Pelicans (and more!) IPTs
San Diego IPT #1. 3 1/2 DAYS: WED 21 DEC thru the morning session on Saturday 24 DEC 2022. $2099.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers.
San Diego IPT #2. 4 1/2 DAYS: SAT 7 JAN thru the morning session on WED 11 JAN 2023: $2699.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers/Openings: 4.
San Diego IPT #3: 3 1/2 DAYS: FRI 20 JAN thru the morning session on MON 23 JAN 2023: $2099.00. Deposit: $699.00.
Please e-mail for information on personalized pre- and post-IPT sessions.
Join me in San Diego to photograph the spectacular breeding plumage Brown Pelicans with their fire-engine red and olive green bill pouches; Brandt’s (nesting) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Ducks; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, Northern Shoveler and Surf Scoter; a variety of gulls including Western, California, and the gorgeous Heermann’s, all in full breeding plumage; shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, Willet, Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover; many others are possible including Least, Western, and Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover, and Surfbird; Harbor Seals and California Sea Lions (both depending on the current regulations and restrictions). And as you can see by studying the IPT cards, there are some nice bird-scape and landscape opportunities as well. Not to mention a ton of excellent flight photography opportunities and instruction.
Please note: where permitted and on occasion, ducks and gulls may be attracted (or re-located) with offerings of grains or healthy bread.
San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Learning Exposure, Whether You Like It Or Not
Whether you like it or not, we will be beating the subject of exposure like a dead horse. In every new situation, you will hear my thoughts on exposure along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and SONY Zebras. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode so that you can get the right exposure every time (as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant). Or two seconds with SONY zebras … And you will learn what to do when the light is changing constantly. What you learn about exposure will be one of the great takeaways on every IPT.
Though the pelicans will be the stars of the show on this IPT, there will be many other handsome and captivating subjects in wonderful settings. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
It Ain’t Just Pelicans
With gorgeous subjects just sitting there waiting to have their pictures taken, photographing the pelicans on the cliffs is about as easy as nature photography gets. With the winds from the east almost every morning there is usually some excellent flight photography as well, often with 70-200mm lenses! And the pelicans are almost always doing something interesting: preening, scratching, bill pouch cleaning, or squabbling. And then there are those crazy head throws that are thought to be a form of intra-flock communication. You will be guided as to how to make the best of those opportunities. Depending on the weather, the local conditions, and the tides, there are a variety of other fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego.
Did I mention that there are lots of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter? Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
The San Diego Details
These IPTs will include four or five 3-hour morning photo sessions, three or four 1 1/2-hour afternoon photo sessions, and three or four working brunches that will include image review and Photoshop sessions. On rare cloudy days, we may — at the leader’s discretion, stay out in the morning for a long session and skip that afternoon. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own as well. In the extremely unlikely event that Goldfish Point is closed due to local ordinance (or whimsy) — that has never happened in the past fifty years, I will of course do my very best to maximize our photographic opportunities.
A $599 deposit is required to hold your slot for one of the 2022/23 San Diego IPTs. You can send a check (made out to “BIRDS AS ART”) to us here: BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 3385, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, is due three months before the trip.
San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance for both big international trips and US-based IPTs is highly recommended as we never know what life has in store for us. I strongly recommend that you purchase quality travel insurance. Travel Insurance Services offers a variety of plans and options. Included with the Elite Option or available as an upgrade to the Basic & Plus Options you can also purchase Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that expands the list of reasons for your canceling to include things such as sudden work or family obligation and even a simple change of mind. My family and I use and depend on the great policies offered by TIS whenever we travel. You can learn more here: Travel Insurance Services. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check or running your credit card. Whenever purchasing travel insurance, be sure to read the fine print carefully even when dealing with reputable firms like TSI.
Variety is surely the spice of life in San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Getting Up Early and Staying Out Late
On all BIRDS AS ART IPTS including and especially the San Diego IPT, we get into the field early to take advantage of unique and often spectacular lighting conditions and we stay out late to maximize the chances of killer light and glorious sunset silhouette situations. We often arrive at the cliffs a full hour before anyone else shows up to check out the landscape and seascape opportunities.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Before you scroll down, click on the original image to view the high-res JPEG that represents the TIF file that was created from the converted raw file. Take a good look at it. Remembering that it is better to cut than clip, how would you crop this image? Why? Would you have any other image optimization plans to improve the image? All are invited to leave a comment addressing these questions.
Wanted to Buy
If you have a Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III lens or an RF 600mm f/4 that you would like to unload for a good price, please get in touch via e-mail.
This image was created on 7 July 2021 on one of the Jacksonville IPT. Seated on damp sand I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 840mm) with the One, the Sony a1 Mirrorless Camera. ISO 640. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect: 1/2000 sec. at f/10 (stopped down 1/3 stop) in Manual mode. AWB at 5:46:00pm on a clear sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot S/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to view the high-res JPEG.
Image #1: Royal Tern with fish for chick
What’s Up?
It was gorgeous on Friday morning (and all day long) here at ILE. A breeze from the SW in the am was not ideal for bird photography. I photographed the baby crane that is no longer a baby, and the two large colts. I learned on important lesson: when using the ankle-pod technique to photograph walking subjects 1/500 second does not cut it. When I upped the shutter speed to 1/800 second, all the images were sharp. At the end of my session, I drove right up to a Great Blue Heron on the edge of a canal with a distended neck; it was in the process of swallowing a large fish 🙁 A minute late and a dollar short.
I was glad to learn yesterday that the sale of Bob Peltz’s Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS and both TCs became pending the first day they were listed.
I downloaded the sixth version of Warren Hatch’s Nikon Z9 Camera User’s Guide and began work on it. We are getting close. I did my bursts and a slow 50-length swim in the early afternoon. I took a mile walk at 5:00pm after my early dinner. It was 88°! Today is Saturday 6 May 2022. The forecast if for rain and drizzle early. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes fifty-seven days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
Gatorland In-the-Field Session
This Sunday, 8 May 2022. 7:00 to 9:00am: $200.00/person
Two hours of intensive instruction. Cheap! You need to have a season photo pass or purchase one for that date to enter. If you are interested, please contact me ASAP via e-mail. You can also learn exactly to make the better photographs at Gatorland in The BAA Middle of Florida Site Guide here .
From the Never Take a Walk Without a Rig Department
As I got to the canal at the end of the South Field on my walk, I saw a bit Softshell Turtle finishing its nest in the Sandy soil. It was a nice photographic opportunity, but I did not have a lens with me. I walked back to the car as quickly as I could and drove back. The mother turtle was still there but it had turned around to face the water. I opened the rear hood of my SUV, got the tripod out, grabbed the 600 f/4, and put a card in the camera. When I turned around, the turtle had disappeared. But a Fish Crow was snooping around. I will check the nest in the morning for predators …
From the You Never Know What to Expect Department
As I turned on the end of the pier, I noticed a small shorebird on the pier less than ten feet from me. I expected it to be a Spotted Sandpiper as I have seen them on the pier many times. The bird looked up at me, jumped up over the railing, and flew away to the north. Its reddish back and large black belly patch made it a breeding plumage Dunlin. This species is uncommon inland. I had seen a few at ILE over the past two decades but never on the pier.
B&H Mother’s Day Specials
Click here or on the logo-link above to see a changing line-up of Mother’s Day Specials. You do not have to be a mother to click or to make a purchase!
BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)
Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.
This image was created on 7 July 2021 on one of the Jacksonville IPT. Seated on damp sand I used the hand held I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 840mm) with the One, the Sony a1 Mirrorless Camera. ISO 640. Exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the Thumb Wheel. RawDigger showed that the exposure was dead solid perfect: 1/2000 sec. at f/10 (stopped down 1/3 stop) in Manual mode. AWB at 5:46:00pm on a clear sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot S/AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to view the high-res JPEG.
Image #1A: The cropped, optimized version of the Royal Tern with fish for chick image
The Crop and the Image Optimization
The big decision for me was exactly where to crop from the bottom. The sunlit part of the chick’s left foot was distracting as it pulled the viewer’s eye so that is where I started the crop from the bottom. That helped also by eliminating the shadow along the frame edge. I took some off the top for a sei-pano look. Then I selected the baitfish, pulled the curve up, and using the Adobe Camera Raw filter on a layer — yes, you can use that after the raw conversion, moved the shadow slider well to the right.
Do you like the crop? Why or why not? What would you have done differently? Would you have done anything additional in Photoshop? If yes, what?
Click on the composite image to enjoy the incredible quality of the hi-res JPEG.
Clockwise from upper left clockwise and back around to the center: Royal Tern in flight with squid for chick; Royal Tern chick on beach; Royal Tern in flight with shrimp for young; Royal Tern chick — double overhead wing stretch; Royal Tern landing with greenback for chick; Royal Tern in flight with juvenile mahi mahi for chick; Brown Pelican — large chick preening; Laughing Gull in fresh juvenal plumage; Royal Tern chick begging; Many Royal Terns with many chicks on face of dune.
Jacksonville IPT: #1: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of 16 June thru the morning of MON 20 June 2022: $2,099.00. (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #2: the afternoon of FRI 1 JULY thru the morning of TUES 5 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #3: the afternoon of FRI 15 JULY thru the morning of TUES 19 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Ride with me: add $200.00. I do not like to disappoint: each trip will run with one participant. If necessary.
I first visited the breeding bird colony at Jacksonville in late June 2021. I was astounded. There were many thousands of pairs of Royal Terns nesting along with about 10,000 pairs of Laughing Gulls. In addition to the royals, there were some Sandwich Terns nesting. And there are several dozen pairs of Brown Pelicans nesting on the ground. Flight photography was non-stop astounding. And photographing the tern chicks was relatively easy. Folks could do the whole trip with the Sony 200-600, the Canon 100-500 RF, or the Nikon 500 PF or 200-500 VR. With a TC in your pocket for use on sunny days. Most of the action is within 100 yards of where we park (on the beach). As with all bird photography, there are times when a super-telephoto lens with either TC is the best tool for the job.
Morning sessions will average about three hours, afternoon sessions about 1 1/2 hours. On cloudy mornings with favorable winds, we may opt to stay out for one long session and skip the afternoon, especially when the afternoon forecast is poor. Lunch is included on the first three days of the IPT and will be served at my AirBnB. After the first lunch there will be an introductory program. On days two and three we will do image review and Photoshop after lunch.
We will be based somewhere west and a bit north of Jacksonville where there are many AirBnB possibilities. The deposit is $599.00. Call Jim at the office any weekday at 863-692-0906 to pay by credit card. Balances must be paid by check.
What You Will Learn on a Jacksonville IPT
1- First and foremast you will learn to become a better flight photographer. Much better.
2-You will learn the basics and fine points of digital exposure. Nikon and Canon folks will learn to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure, and SONY folks will learn to use Zebras so that they can be sure of making excellent exposures before pressing the shutter button.
3- You will learn to work in Manual exposure mode even if you fear it.
4- You will learn to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography, especially the photography of birds in flight.
5- You will learn several pro secrets (for each system) that will help you to become a better flight photographer.
6- You will learn to zoom out in advance (because the birds are so close!) 🙂
7- You will learn how to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
8- You will learn to spot the good and the great situations.
9- You will learn to understand and predict bird behavior.
10- You will learn to design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
11- You will learn to choose the best perspective.
12- You will learn to see and control your backgrounds.
13- You will learn to see and understand the light.
14- You will learn to see and create pleasing blurs in pre-dawn situations.
15- You will learn to be ready for the most likely event.
And the best news is that you will be able to take everything you learn home with you so that you will be a better photographer wherever you are and whenever you photograph.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Lots of spoonbills flew in for sticks in the predawn on Thursday morning, my second with Anar. After a gorgeous, fog-muted sunrise, the barely perceptible breeze from the southwest was not our friend as the spoonies were landing to our left and away from us. We moved to what turned out to be a better spot and had some good chances on fly-by spoonbills with nesting material. Those plus a very persistent Cattle Egret that must have flown to the same spot fifty times to gather nesting material and then flew right at us on the way back to the colony. When that action slowed, we went over some basic and some advanced a1 video techniques. Anar got to practice on the numerous Turkey and Black Vultures. When you are learning common birds like gulls and vultures make excellent practice subjects.
Grilled tuna brunch, my bursts, a half-mile swim, some work, and some NBA playoff basketball on Tivo filled the rest of the day. Today is Friday 6 May 2022. The morning forecast for ILE is for clear skies with a gentle SW breeze. I may head down to the lake for a bit to see if the big tom Wild Turkey is displaying. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes fifty-six days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
Stick Marsh In-the-Field Sessions
6:30 to 9:00am: $250.00/person
Two 1/2 hours of intensive flight photography instruction: $250/person. Cheap! If you are interested, please contact me ASAP via e-mail and we can set up a session or two based on the weather forecast. The weather is looking fine for this coming Monday and Tuesday.
Gatorland In-the-Field Session
Sunday 8 May 2022. 7:00 to 9:00am: $200.00/person
Two hours of intensive instruction. Cheap! You need to have a season photo pass or purchase one for that date to enter. If you are interested, please contact me ASAP via e-mail. You can also learn exactly to make the better photographs at Gatorland in The BAA Middle of Florida Site Guide here .
B&H Mother’s Day Specials
Click here or on the logo-link above to see a changing line-up of Mother’s Day Specials. You do not have to be a mother to click or to make a purchase!
BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)
Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.
And Please Remember
You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Brand-New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or to any prior purchases.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
Important Note
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link immediately above). My link works with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂
Please Remember Also
Please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will (still!) save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I lost about fifty thousand dollars in income due to COVID 19 — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes, are invited to help out by clicking here to leave a blog thank you gift if they see fit.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: The originally posted version of the Roseate Spoonbill landing with marsh in background image with the two extra primary tips above the end of the bird’s left wing.
Eagle-eyed Margaret Saves the Day!
In the Stick Marsh Better Than Expected! blog post here, Margaret left this comment:
I love them both, but choose number 1 because of the wing spread. However, there are two cloned primary tips above the left wingtip in number 1.
My initial reaction was, “I did not use the Clone Stamp Tool on that image. I would never have missed that. Margaret must be seeing things.” But when I went to the post and clicked on the image (now immediately above) to view the high-res version, there were indeed two extra primary tips in the sky. Thanks a stack, Margaret. You have a really sharp pair of eyes!
Image #1A: a tight crop of the Roseate Spoonbill landing with marsh in background with the two extraneous primary tips circled
The Two Extraneous Primary Tips
I am still trying to figure out how Margaret spotted the barely visible extra feathers. To create the image, I used the background from one image and the best bird from another in the series. My error was not the result of sloppy Clone Stamp Tool work, but rather the result of sloppy Quick Masking work. While I checked the area around the bird’s right wing very carefully as it came close to the new greener background, I neglected to check the area above the left wing at all. Thanks, Margaret, for catching that!
Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1B: This is the cleaned-up version of the Roseate Spoonbill landing with marsh in background image
The Repair
Using the Patch Tool, the repair took less than five seconds once the master file opened in Photoshop. I simply circled the two tiny feathers and dragged the patch to a clean area of water just to he left. The beauty of the Patch Tool is that it blends. Regular readers know that I rarely use the Clone Stamp Tool.
I love the area of darker gray water below and to our right of the bird.
Click on the composite image to enjoy the incredible quality of the hi-res JPEG.
Clockwise from upper left clockwise and back around to the center: Royal Tern in flight with squid for chick; Royal Tern chick on beach; Royal Tern in flight with shrimp for young; Royal Tern chick — double overhead wing stretch; Royal Tern landing with greenback for chick; Royal Tern in flight with juvenile mahi mahi for chick; Brown Pelican — large chick preening; Laughing Gull in fresh juvenal plumage; Royal Tern chick begging; Many Royal Terns with many chicks on face of dune.
Jacksonville IPT: #1: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of 16 June thru the morning of MON 20 June 2022: $2,099.00. (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #2: the afternoon of FRI 1 JULY thru the morning of TUES 5 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #3: the afternoon of FRI 15 JULY thru the morning of TUES 19 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Ride with me: add $200.00. I do not like to disappoint: each trip will run with one participant. If necessary.
I first visited the breeding bird colony at Jacksonville in late June 2021. I was astounded. There were many thousands of pairs of Royal Terns nesting along with about 10,000 pairs of Laughing Gulls. In addition to the royals, there were some Sandwich Terns nesting. And there are several dozen pairs of Brown Pelicans nesting on the ground. Flight photography was non-stop astounding. And photographing the tern chicks was relatively easy. Folks could do the whole trip with the Sony 200-600, the Canon 100-500 RF, or the Nikon 500 PF or 200-500 VR. With a TC in your pocket for use on sunny days. Most of the action is within 100 yards of where we park (on the beach). As with all bird photography, there are times when a super-telephoto lens with either TC is the best tool for the job.
Morning sessions will average about three hours, afternoon sessions about 1 1/2 hours. On cloudy mornings with favorable winds, we may opt to stay out for one long session and skip the afternoon, especially when the afternoon forecast is poor. Lunch is included on the first three days of the IPT and will be served at my AirBnB. After the first lunch there will be an introductory program. On days two and three we will do image review and Photoshop after lunch.
We will be based somewhere west and a bit north of Jacksonville where there are many AirBnB possibilities. The deposit is $599.00. Call Jim at the office any weekday at 863-692-0906 to pay by credit card. Balances must be paid by check.
What You Will Learn on a Jacksonville IPT
1- First and foremast you will learn to become a better flight photographer. Much better.
2-You will learn the basics and fine points of digital exposure. Nikon and Canon folks will learn to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure, and SONY folks will learn to use Zebras so that they can be sure of making excellent exposures before pressing the shutter button.
3- You will learn to work in Manual exposure mode even if you fear it.
4- You will learn to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography, especially the photography of birds in flight.
5- You will learn several pro secrets (for each system) that will help you to become a better flight photographer.
6- You will learn to zoom out in advance (because the birds are so close!) 🙂
7- You will learn how to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
8- You will learn to spot the good and the great situations.
9- You will learn to understand and predict bird behavior.
10- You will learn to design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
11- You will learn to choose the best perspective.
12- You will learn to see and control your backgrounds.
13- You will learn to see and understand the light.
14- You will learn to see and create pleasing blurs in pre-dawn situations.
15- You will learn to be ready for the most likely event.
And the best news is that you will be able to take everything you learn home with you so that you will be a better photographer wherever you are and whenever you photograph.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
It was foggy and still when I woke on Wednesday. Remarkably, I opted to stay in and get some work done. That after 12 days in a row with at least one photo session. I did my bursts and swam my half-mile in the afternoon.
Today is Thursday 5 May 2022. I will be meeting Anar early at Stick Marsh for her second In-the-Field session this week. The morning forecast for Fellsmere is calling for partly cloudy turning sunny with almost no wind.
Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes fifty-five days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
Gatorland In-the-Field Session
Sunday 8 May 2022. 7:00 to 9:00am: $200.00/person
Two hours of intensive instruction. Cheap! You need to have a season photo pass or purchase one for that date to enter. If you are interested, please contact me ASAP via e-mail.
2022 Gatorland Photographer’s Pass Program
Though the 2022 Gatorland Photographer’s Pass Program (GPPP) is much improved from last year’s program, it falls well short of the great program that was in effect BC (Before Covid). I am hoping that the program will be restored to its former greatness next year. This year’s program included ten scheduled days. There are three remaining. With a pass, you can get into the park at 7:00 am instead of the normal 10:00 am entry time.
Reservations are required two days before your visit. For example, if you wish to visit on 27 March, you need to make your reservation on March 25th. You can make reservations here on the Gatorland website, or by calling 407-855-5496 ext. 226 during business hours with your credit card in hand. There is no late stay option this year. The price is $25.00 + tax per visit and includes early entry at 7:00 AM at the SOUTH ENTRANCE. All tickets are date specific and non-transferable. You will not be able to leave until 10:00am when Gatorland opens.
Choose from the remaining 2022 dates:
May 8, 2022
May 14, 2022
May 21, 2022
The famous Gatorland Bird Rookery was created in 1991 as an alligator breeding marsh. While the birds lose an occasional chick to the gators, they gain protection from ground predators. This unique habitat has grown into one of the largest and most accessible wading bird rookeries in Florida. Today, this area provides protected nesting, foraging, and roosting area to more than 20 different species of birds, many of which are listed as Endangered or Species of Special Concern. Gatorland’s boardwalks provide birders and photographers with access to these incredible birds, their nests, and their young, allowing people to safely observe them while capturing stunning photographs.
You can learn exactly how to make the best possible photographs at Gatorland in here .
B&H Mother’s Day Specials
Click here or on the logo-link above to see a changing line-up of Mother’s Day Specials. You do not have to be a mother to click or to make a purchase!
BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)
Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.
This image was also created on 30 April at Gatorland. Standing at full height, I used the no-longer available Induro GIT304L Stealth Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted-Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. ISO 5000. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/320 sec. at f/8 (stopped down one stop) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the raw file was dead-solid perfect. AWB at 7:57:16am on a then mostly cloudy morning. I made sure to shade the nest with my torso.
Tracking: Spot-S with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #1: Tricolored Heron chicks in nest, one begging to be fed, with one egg
Your Call
Note the sharp focus on the right eye of the begging chick. Even though I stopped down one stop from f/5.6 to f/8, the top of the adult’s head is nowhere near sharp as it is well in front of the plane of focus on the chick’s eye, well outside the zone of sharp focus.
Do the out-of-focus feathers on top of the adult’s head bug you?
Would you have tried to do anything in the field to render them sharper? Why or why not?
I raised the ISO from 2500 to 5000 to get a good exposure at 1/320 sec. Why was it important for me to raise the shutter speed?
This image was created on 30 April 2022 at Gatorland in Kissimmee, FL. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter (at 400mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 1000: 1/125 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:59:58am in the shade on a then-mostly sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot/S with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Snowy Egret head portrait of chick
Finding the Clear Slot
One of the most important skills at wading bird rookeries is being able to determine the best perspective, to find a clear slot through the twigs, branches, and leaves so that you can get your lens on the subject while avoiding the usually many intervening obstructions. Join me this coming Sunday to learn this skill real time.
Note: the nest in Image #1 was relatively wide open for one photographer. If you moved left or right even a few inches, your view of the nest would have been obstructed.
Click on the composite image to enjoy the incredible quality of the hi-res JPEG.
Clockwise from upper left clockwise and back around to the center: Royal Tern in flight with squid for chick; Royal Tern chick on beach; Royal Tern in flight with shrimp for young; Royal Tern chick — double overhead wing stretch; Royal Tern landing with greenback for chick; Royal Tern in flight with juvenile mahi mahi for chick; Brown Pelican — large chick preening; Laughing Gull in fresh juvenal plumage; Royal Tern chick begging; Many Royal Terns with many chicks on face of dune.
Jacksonville IPT: #1: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of 16 June thru the morning of MON 20 June 2022: $2,099.00. (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #2: the afternoon of FRI 1 JULY thru the morning of TUES 5 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #3: the afternoon of FRI 15 JULY thru the morning of TUES 19 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Ride with me: add $200.00. I do not like to disappoint: each trip will run with one participant. If necessary.
I first visited the breeding bird colony at Jacksonville in late June 2021. I was astounded. There were many thousands of pairs of Royal Terns nesting along with about 10,000 pairs of Laughing Gulls. In addition to the royals, there were some Sandwich Terns nesting. And there are several dozen pairs of Brown Pelicans nesting on the ground. Flight photography was non-stop astounding. And photographing the tern chicks was relatively easy. Folks could do the whole trip with the Sony 200-600, the Canon 100-500 RF, or the Nikon 500 PF or 200-500 VR. With a TC in your pocket for use on sunny days. Most of the action is within 100 yards of where we park (on the beach). As with all bird photography, there are times when a super-telephoto lens with either TC is the best tool for the job.
Morning sessions will average about three hours, afternoon sessions about 1 1/2 hours. On cloudy mornings with favorable winds, we may opt to stay out for one long session and skip the afternoon, especially when the afternoon forecast is poor. Lunch is included on the first three days of the IPT and will be served at my AirBnB. After the first lunch there will be an introductory program. On days two and three we will do image review and Photoshop after lunch.
We will be based somewhere west and a bit north of Jacksonville where there are many AirBnB possibilities. The deposit is $599.00. Call Jim at the office any weekday at 863-692-0906 to pay by credit card. Balances must be paid by check.
What You Will Learn on a Jacksonville IPT
1- First and foremast you will learn to become a better flight photographer. Much better.
2-You will learn the basics and fine points of digital exposure. Nikon and Canon folks will learn to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure, and SONY folks will learn to use Zebras so that they can be sure of making excellent exposures before pressing the shutter button.
3- You will learn to work in Manual exposure mode even if you fear it.
4- You will learn to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography, especially the photography of birds in flight.
5- You will learn several pro secrets (for each system) that will help you to become a better flight photographer.
6- You will learn to zoom out in advance (because the birds are so close!) 🙂
7- You will learn how to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
8- You will learn to spot the good and the great situations.
9- You will learn to understand and predict bird behavior.
10- You will learn to design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
11- You will learn to choose the best perspective.
12- You will learn to see and control your backgrounds.
13- You will learn to see and understand the light.
14- You will learn to see and create pleasing blurs in pre-dawn situations.
15- You will learn to be ready for the most likely event.
And the best news is that you will be able to take everything you learn home with you so that you will be a better photographer wherever you are and whenever you photograph.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Which of today’s three featured square images do you like best? All are invited to leave a comment and let us know why they made their choice.
What’s Up?
I met Anar early on Tuesday morning. We began by working on her a1 set-up; she was in pretty good shape. Because she has small hands, she likes the ISO on the index finger wheel rather than on the thumb dial. As I had showed her a few pleasing blurs from my Sunday visit, she was anxious to get started. Because we can get lots of green in the background when doing blurs at Stick Marsh, it is best to work in Manual mode. I taught her to get the right exposure by adding 1 2/3 stops to the meter reading off the still, gray water. We had non-stop action for well more than an hour, but when it got brighter, things slowed down. She learned so much in such a short time and had so much fun that she is coming back for a second session on Thursday.
After brunch at home, I got my nap, did my bursts, and enjoyed a sunny afternoon swim. Today is Wednesday 4 May 2022. The morning forecast for ILE is for partly cloudy with almost no wind. I will head down to the lake for a short session. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes fifty-four days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
Click on the composite image to enjoy the incredible quality of the hi-res JPEG.
Clockwise from upper left back around to the center: spoonbill with mangrove background; spoonbill head and shoulders portrait; spoonbill braking to land; spoonbill dramatic landing pose; adult Black-crowned Night-Heron; spoonbill with nesting material; Great Egret returning to nest; incoming spoonbill; and Limpkin landing.
Stick Marsh In-the-Field Sessions
6:30 to 9:00am: $250.00/person
Two 1/2 hours of intensive flight photography instruction: $250/person. Cheap! If you are interested, please contact me ASAP via e-mail and we can set up a session or two based on the weather forecast. The weather is looking fine for this Thursday and for next Monday and Tuesday. I am not sure how long the action will last, so the sooner the better.
BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)
Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.
Just for the Record
If you are not using a Sony a1 for bird photography, you are making your life far more difficult than it needs to be. Period. If you would like to receive a short but frank e-mail explaining why the Sony a1 is so much better than the best Nikon and Canon mirrorless camera bodies, please click here.
And Please Remember
You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Brand-New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or to any prior purchases.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
Important Note
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link immediately above). My link works with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂
Please Remember Also
Please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will (still!) save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I lost about fifty thousand dollars in income due to COVID 19 — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes, are invited to help out by clicking here to leave a blog thank you gift if they see fit.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
This image was created on 1 May 2022 at Stick Marsh. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter (at 280mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras. ISO 5000: 1/2000 sec. at f/4 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the raw file brightness was about 1/2 stop too dark. AWB at 6:52:04 am just after sunrise with a cloud blocking the sun.
Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Roseate Spoonbill coming in for landing
Use a Fast Lens & a High ISO to Conquer Low Light
Wanting to create some sharp images in low very low light I turned to the 70–200 f/2.8 GM II lens with the 1.4X TC and the a1. That combo yields 280mm of reach at f/4. And I cheated a bit on the ISO at 5000. Topaz DeNoise handled the ISO 5000 image with ease. Making clean, bright, and noise-free images at ISO 5000 is a whole new world thanks to DeNoise. Folks need to learn not to fear high ISOs when they are needed to create sharp images.
Topaz DeNoise
As regular readers know, I run DeNoise on virtually every image that I process immediately after executing the crop with the Delete Cropped Pixels box checked. For images made in sunny conditions, I used Standard. For images made in low light, I use Low Light. You can check all four methods by using the Comparison View but I rarely do that anymore as I am confident as noted above.
Great Topaz News!
Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plug-ins), will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. If the stuff is on sale (as it usually is), you save 15% off of the sale price! To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.
Those who purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or any other Topaz plug-ins using my link and then entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. Please include a copy of your Topaz receipt that shows the discount. Aside from the basics, the guide explains how to install the plug-ins so that they appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu.
This image was also created on 1 May 2022 at Stick Marsh. While seated, I used the hand held Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. ISO 640. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/2500 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the raw file was about 1/3 stop too dark. In other words, pretty good and better than most. AWB at 8:42:15am on a by then sunny morning.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed very well. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #2: Roseate Spoonbill with nesting material
AF Question
Whatever system you are using, would a wide AF pattern be best for this image? Or should you be using some type of single point AF? Why?
My Favorite Part of This Image
Click on the image to view the high-res version and if you think you can spot my very favorite part of this image, leave a comment.
This image was also created on 1 May 2022 at Stick Marsh. Again, while seated, I used the hand held Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. ISO 640. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/3200 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the raw file was less than 1/3 stop under. AWB at 8:56:51am on a by then sunny morning.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed very well. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
Image #3: Roseate Spoonbill arguing with another one nearby
The Blue Neck Patch
I think that the blue triangle on this spoonbill’s neck is the skin on the neck, revealed due to excessive feather wear. What do you think?
Click on the composite image to enjoy the incredible quality of the hi-res JPEG.
Clockwise from upper left clockwise and back around to the center: Royal Tern in flight with squid for chick; Royal Tern chick on beach; Royal Tern in flight with shrimp for young; Royal Tern chick — double overhead wing stretch; Royal Tern landing with greenback for chick; Royal Tern in flight with juvenile mahi mahi for chick; Brown Pelican — large chick preening; Laughing Gull in fresh juvenal plumage; Royal Tern chick begging; Many Royal Terns with many chicks on face of dune.
Jacksonville IPT: #1: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of 16 June thru the morning of MON 20 June 2022: $2,099.00. (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #2: the afternoon of FRI 1 JULY thru the morning of TUES 5 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #3: the afternoon of FRI 15 JULY thru the morning of TUES 19 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Ride with me: add $200.00. I do not like to disappoint: each trip will run with one participant. If necessary.
I first visited the breeding bird colony at Jacksonville in late June 2021. I was astounded. There were many thousands of pairs of Royal Terns nesting along with about 10,000 pairs of Laughing Gulls. In addition to the royals, there were some Sandwich Terns nesting. And there are several dozen pairs of Brown Pelicans nesting on the ground. Flight photography was non-stop astounding. And photographing the tern chicks was relatively easy. Folks could do the whole trip with the Sony 200-600, the Canon 100-500 RF, or the Nikon 500 PF or 200-500 VR. With a TC in your pocket for use on sunny days. Most of the action is within 100 yards of where we park (on the beach). As with all bird photography, there are times when a super-telephoto lens with either TC is the best tool for the job.
Morning sessions will average about three hours, afternoon sessions about 1 1/2 hours. On cloudy mornings with favorable winds, we may opt to stay out for one long session and skip the afternoon, especially when the afternoon forecast is poor. Lunch is included on the first three days of the IPT and will be served at my AirBnB. After the first lunch there will be an introductory program. On days two and three we will do image review and Photoshop after lunch.
We will be based somewhere west and a bit north of Jacksonville where there are many AirBnB possibilities. The deposit is $599.00. Call Jim at the office any weekday at 863-692-0906 to pay by credit card. Balances must be paid by check.
What You Will Learn on a Jacksonville IPT
1- First and foremast you will learn to become a better flight photographer. Much better.
2-You will learn the basics and fine points of digital exposure. Nikon and Canon folks will learn to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure, and SONY folks will learn to use Zebras so that they can be sure of making excellent exposures before pressing the shutter button.
3- You will learn to work in Manual exposure mode even if you fear it.
4- You will learn to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography, especially the photography of birds in flight.
5- You will learn several pro secrets (for each system) that will help you to become a better flight photographer.
6- You will learn to zoom out in advance (because the birds are so close!) 🙂
7- You will learn how to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
8- You will learn to spot the good and the great situations.
9- You will learn to understand and predict bird behavior.
10- You will learn to design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
11- You will learn to choose the best perspective.
12- You will learn to see and control your backgrounds.
13- You will learn to see and understand the light.
14- You will learn to see and create pleasing blurs in pre-dawn situations.
15- You will learn to be ready for the most likely event.
And the best news is that you will be able to take everything you learn home with you so that you will be a better photographer wherever you are and whenever you photograph.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Monday dawned slightly foggy and very still here at ILE. I saw the large sandhill colts and the baby crane with their respective parents. The young eagle was in the nest tree with one of the adults. I created a foggy Osprey silhouette from my SUV with the big lens on the BLUBB. I saw something huge in the North Field. It looked about as big as a Volkswagen. As I got closer, I saw that it was a displaying Wild Turkey tom. He was not very cooperative … After that, I was not feeling very inspired, so I headed home at about 7:40am to do the blooming sunflowers in our backyard butterfly garden. I used the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 II lens with the 2X TC — I should have gone with the 1.4X TC, and the a1. I used my lightweight tripod set-up, the Flex-shooter Mini with the no longer available Induro GIT 204 tripod. As expected, I got some nice ones and will share the best of those here soon.
Today is Tuesday 3 May 2022. I am meeting an In-the-Field client at Stick Marsh at 6:45am. The weather for Fellsmere is looking decent: partly to mostly cloudy with an ESE breeze. Anar is heading back home to California on Friday and was anxious to get some instruction on both her 200-600/a1 rig and bird photography, especially birds in flight. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes fifty-three days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
Click on the composite image to enjoy the incredible quality of the hi-res JPEG.
Clockwise from upper left back around to the center: spoonbill with mangrove background; spoonbill head and shoulders portrait; spoonbill braking to land; spoonbill dramatic landing pose; adult Black-crowned Night-Heron; spoonbill with nesting material; Great Egret returning to nest; incoming spoonbill; and Limpkin landing.
Stick Marsh In-the-Field Sessions
6:45 to 9:15am: $250.00/person
Two 1/2 hours of intensive flight photography instruction: $250/person. Cheap! If you are interested, please contact me ASAP via e-mail and we can set up a session or two based on the weather forecast. The weather is looking fine for this Thursday and all of the following week beginning on Monday. Though photography on Sunday morning was not as good as the best days last April, it was quite excellent; I created 2230 images and kept 112 after the first edit! As I am not sure how long the action will last, the sooner the better.
Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS Lens
BAA friend Robert Peltz is offering a Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS lens (the original IS version) in near-like new condition with a very few blemishes on the lens foot for a very low $1699.00. The sale includes the lens trunk, the rear lens cover, the front lens cover, the lens strap, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears or other arrangements are made.
The 300mm f/2.8 lenses have long been the favorite of the world’s best hawks in flight photographers, often with the 1.4X TC. As a workhorse lens, they do well with both TCs including the 2X teleconverter. I loved my Canon 300 f/2.8s. Right now, the lack of this easily hand holdable super sharp lens is the biggest hole in the Sony lens line-up. The newer Canon version sells new right now for $6099.00. Both lenses would do well with an R5 or an R3 and one of the EF/RF adapters. But you can save a chunk of bucks by grabbing Bob’s lens today. artie
Canon EF Extender 1.4X III
BAA friend Robert Peltz is offering a Canon EF Extender 1.4X III in like-new condition for a very low $239.00. The sale includes the front and rear lens covers, the lens pouch, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears or other arrangements are made.
As regular readers know, TCs are so important to what I do that I always travel with three 1.4X teleconverters and two 2X teleconverters. (Note: they do fail on occasion …) artie
Canon EF Extender 2X III
BAA friend Robert Peltz is offering a Canon EF Extender 2X III in like-new condition for a very low $249.00. The sale includes the front and rear lens covers, the lens pouch, and insured ground shipping via major courier to lower-48 US addresses only. Your item will not ship until your check clears or other arrangements are made.
As regular readers know, TCs are so important to what I do that I always travel with three 1.4X teleconverters and two 2X teleconverters. (Note: they do fail on occasion …) artie
Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Roseate Spoonbill landing with marsh in background
It Was a Long Time Coming
I had had the feeling for quite some time that the new Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with either teleconverter would be deadly at Stick Marsh. But with the late nesting season, several mornings with a NW wind when I stayed home, my trip to the GNPA EXPO, and then COVID, I never had the chance to try it. Until Sunday past. It was as deadly as I thought it would be. The lens is relatively tiny, the zoom mechanism is fast and sure, and AF is much improved from the original version.
All are invited to critique this image. What do you like? What don’t you like?
This image was also created on 1 May 2022 at Stick Marsh. While seated, I used the hand held Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens with the Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. ISO 640. The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the rear wheel: 1/2000 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. RawDigger showed that the raw exposure was a bit too bright (but the WHITEs were easily recovered during the raw conversion as all of the OvExp pixels were in the GREEN channel). AWB at 8:44:14am on a by then sunny morning.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed very well. Click on the image to enjoy the high-res version.
With the incredible AF system of the a1 it is not uncommon to keep firing when a bird in flight gets relatively close, too close to fit into the frame. Yet the images are often razor sharp on the eye. There are lots of time where I will execute a “cut-rather-than-clip” crop as I did with Image #2 above. What do you think of my tight flight pano crop?
This all-new card includes images created on my JAN 2022 visit to San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
The 2022/23 San Diego Brown Pelicans (and more!) IPTs
San Diego IPT #1. 3 1/2 DAYS: WED 21 DEC thru the morning session on Saturday 24 DEC 2022. $2099.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers.
San Diego IPT #2. 4 1/2 DAYS: SAT 7 JAN thru the morning session on WED 11 JAN 2023: $2699.00. Deposit: $699.00. Limit: 6 photographers/Openings: 4.
San Diego IPT #3: 3 1/2 DAYS: FRI 20 JAN thru the morning session on MON 23 JAN 2023: $2099.00. Deposit: $699.00.
Please e-mail for information on personalized pre- and post-IPT sessions.
Join me in San Diego to photograph the spectacular breeding plumage Brown Pelicans with their fire-engine red and olive green bill pouches; Brandt’s (nesting) and Double-crested Cormorants; breeding plumage Wood and Ring-necked Ducks; other duck species possible including Lesser Scaup, Redhead, Northern Shoveler and Surf Scoter; a variety of gulls including Western, California, and the gorgeous Heermann’s, all in full breeding plumage; shorebirds including Marbled Godwit, Willet, Sanderling and Black-bellied Plover; many others are possible including Least, Western, and Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Black and Ruddy Turnstone, Semipalmated Plover, and Surfbird; Harbor Seals and California Sea Lions (both depending on the current regulations and restrictions). And as you can see by studying the IPT cards, there are some nice bird-scape and landscape opportunities as well. Not to mention a ton of excellent flight photography opportunities and instruction.
Please note: where permitted and on occasion, ducks and gulls may be attracted (or re-located) with offerings of grains or healthy bread.
San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Learning Exposure, Whether You Like It Or Not
Whether you like it or not, we will be beating the subject of exposure like a dead horse. In every new situation, you will hear my thoughts on the exposure situation along with my thoughts on both Nikon and Canon histograms and SONY Zebras. Whether you like it or not, you will learn to work in manual mode and to get the right exposure every time as long as a bird gives you ten seconds with the light constant. (Or two seconds with SONY zebras…) And you will learn what to do when the light is changing constantly. What you learn about exposure is one of the great takeaways on every IPT.
Though the pelicans will be the stars of the show on this IPT, there will be many other handsome and captivating subjects in wonderful settings. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
It Ain’t Just Pelicans
With gorgeous subjects just sitting there waiting to have their pictures taken, photographing the pelicans on the cliffs is about as easy as nature photography gets. With the winds from the east almost every morning there is usually some excellent flight photography as well, often with 70-200mm lenses! And the pelicans are almost always doing something interesting: preening, scratching, bill pouch cleaning, or squabbling. And then there are those crazy head throws that are thought to be a form of intra-flock communication. You will be guided as to how to make the best of those opportunities. And depending on the weather and local conditions and tides, there are a variety of other fabulous photo chances available in and around San Diego.
Did I mention that there are lots of great birds and natural history subjects in San Diego in winter? Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
The San Diego Details
These IPTs will include four or five 3-hour morning photo sessions, three or four 1 1/2-hour afternoon photo sessions, and three or four working brunches that will include image review and Photoshop sessions. On rare cloudy days, we may — at the leader’s discretion, stay out in the morning for a long session and skip that afternoon. To ensure early starts, breakfasts will be your responsibility. And so that we can get some sleep, dinners will be on your own as well. In the extremely unlikely event that Goldfish Point is closed due to local ordinance (or whimsy) — that has never happened in the past fifty years, I will of course do my very best to maximize our photographic opportunities.
A $599 deposit is required to hold your slot for one of the 2022/23 San Diego IPTs. You can send a check (made out to “BIRDS AS ART”) to us here: BIRDS AS ART, PO Box 7245, Indian Lake Estates, FL, 3385, or call Jim or Jennifer at the office with a credit card at 863-692-0906. Your balance, payable only by check, is due three months before the trip.
San Diego offers a wealth of very attractive natural history subjects, including and especially the Pacific race of California Brown Pelican. With annual visits spanning more than four decades, I have lots of photographic experience there … Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance for both big international trips and US-based IPTs is highly recommended as we never know what life has in store for us. I strongly recommend that you purchase quality travel insurance. Travel Insurance Services offers a variety of plans and options. Included with the Elite Option or available as an upgrade to the Basic & Plus Options you can also purchase Cancel for Any Reason Coverage that expands the list of reasons for your canceling to include things such as sudden work or family obligation and even a simple change of mind. My family and I use and depend on the great policies offered by TIS whenever we travel. You can learn more here: Travel Insurance Services. Do note that many plans require that you purchase your travel insurance within 14 days of our cashing your deposit check or running your credit card. Whenever purchasing travel insurance, be sure to read the fine print carefully even when dealing with reputable firms like TSI.
Variety is surely the spice of life in San Diego. Click on the composite to enjoy a larger version.
Getting Up Early and Staying Out Late
On all BIRDS AS ART IPTS including and especially the San Diego IPT, we get into the field early to take advantage of unique and often spectacular lighting conditions and we stay out late to maximize the chances of killer light and glorious sunset silhouette situations. We often arrive at the cliffs a full hour before anyone else shows up to check out the landscape and seascape opportunities.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Which of today’s two featured images do you like best? All are invited to leave a comment and let us know why they made their choice.
What’s Up?
I woke early without the alarm and checked the weather forecast for Fellsmere. It was much improved from what they were saying the night before so I headed to Stick Marsh for only the second time this year. I was very glad that I went. I created 2230 images and kept 112 after the first edit! In the afternoon I napped, did my bursts, and swam. Then I watched the two NBA playoff games and took a walk.
Today is Monday 2 May 2022. The forecast for ILE for the morning is for partly cloudy with a very gentle east breeze. Flowers anyone? Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes fifty-two days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
Gatorland Update
Though there are far fewer birds nesting this season than in recent memory, photography was quite good on my Saturday 30 April visit. And best of all, there were very few photographers present. Photographing at rookeries is always a big challenge. Consider spending two hours with me on Sunday 8 May and learning to see the shot. Note that both of today’s featured images were created with the Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM II lens with a 2X TC. This combination is deadly in tight quarters.
Gatorland In-the-Field Session
Sunday 8 May 2022. 7:00 to 9:00am: $200.00/person
Two hours of intensive instruction. Cheap! You need to have a season photo pass or purchase one for that date to enter. If you are interested, please contact me ASAP via e-mail.
2022 Gatorland Photographer’s Pass Program
Though the 2022 Gatorland Photographer’s Pass Program (GPPP) is much improved from last year’s program, it falls well short of the great program that was in effect BC (Before Covid). I am hoping that the program will be restored to its former greatness next year. This year’s program includes ten scheduled days. The first is on 19 March, and the last is 21 May 2022. And it gives photographers the opportunity to get into the park at 7:00 am instead of the normal 10:00 am entry time.
Reservations are required two days before your visit. For example, if you wish to visit on 27 March, you need to make your reservation on March 25th. You can make reservations here on the Gatorland website, or by calling 407-855-5496 ext. 226 during business hours with your credit card in hand. There is no late stay option this year. The price is $25.00 + tax per visit and includes early entry at 7:00 AM at the SOUTH ENTRANCE. All tickets are date specific and non-transferable. You will not be able to leave until 10:00am when Gatorland opens.
Choose from the remaining 2022 dates:
May 8, 2022
May 14, 2022
May 21, 2022
A far better deal for folks who live in the area was the Birding Seasonal pass for $125.00 per person. That included visits on all ten dates. And best of all, you can never be shut out. If like me, you are on the list for the Birding Seasonal pass, you can show up on any of the GPPP days, have your name checked off the list, and enjoy a great morning of photography.
If you have a party of 15 or more folks and would like to book a Private Group early entry, Gatorland is able to offer additional dates of your choice (subject to availability and pending approval). Please contact: JoIndomenico@gatorland.com.
The famous Gatorland Bird Rookery was created in 1991 as an alligator breeding marsh. While the birds lose an occasional chick to the gators, they gain protection from ground predators. This unique habitat has grown into one of the largest and most accessible wading bird rookeries in Florida. Today, this area provides protected nesting, foraging, and roosting area to more than 20 different species of birds, many of which are listed as Endangered or Species of Special Concern. Gatorland’s boardwalks provide birders and photographers with access to these incredible birds, their nests, and their young, allowing people to safely observe them while capturing stunning photographs.
You can learn exactly how to make the best possible photographs at Gatorland in here ; details on that below.
BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)
Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.
Just for the Record
If you are not using a Sony a1 for bird photography, you are making your life far more difficult than it needs to be. Period. If you would like to receive a short but frank e-mail explaining why the Sony a1 is so much better than the best Nikon and Canon mirrorless camera bodies, please click here.
And Please Remember
You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Brand-New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or to any prior purchases.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
Important Note
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link immediately above). My link works with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂
Please Remember Also
Please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will (still!) save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I lost about fifty thousand dollars in income due to COVID 19 — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes, are invited to help out by clicking here to leave a blog thank you gift if they see fit.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
This image was created on 30 April 2022 at Gatorland in Kissimmee, FL. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter (at 400mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 640: 1/640 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:02:45am on a then mostly cloudy morning.
Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Great Egret, very large chick preening
One of the Oldest, Simplest Tricks in the Book
I could not have made this image without using one of the oldest, simplest tricks in the book. The trick is in the Gatorland section of the BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide. This one trick alone is worth the price of admission, yet I have never seen anyone else use the trick. Except for folks doing an In-the-Field session with me …
The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide
You can purchase your copy here in the BAA Online Store.
The BAA Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide
126 pages, 87 photographs by Joe Przybyla and Arthur Morris.
The PDF for this e-Guide is an electronic download sent via e-mail.
I had thought about doing a guide to some of the great but little-known photo hotspots around central Florida for about a decade, but those plans never came to fruition. I met Joe Przybyla online in the Avian Forum at BirdPhotographer’s.Net about two years ago. Joe’s photography has improved tremendously over the past few years; he credits the BAA blog, my books and PDFs, and his participation on BPN. The one thing that I learned right from the get-go about Joe is that he is a hard and tenacious worker, always striving to improve his skills and to grow his knowledge base. As he knew of more than a few good spots in central Florida, I broached the idea of us doing a photographic site guide that covered many of the little-known photographic hotspots from Brandon to Lakeland to Joe Overstreet Road to Indian Lake Estates (my Florida home for the past 20 years or so). After more than many, many dozens of hours of effort, The BIRDS AS ART Middle of Florida Photographic Site Guide is now a reality. Thanks to Joe’s wife Dottie for her review of our writing. We all learned once again that writing is a process, a back-and-forth process. All thanks to the white pelicans of Lakeland. Here are the locations that are detailed in this e-Guide:
Indian Lake Estates: Sandhills Cranes with chicks and colts, lots of vultures, and Ospreys up the kazoo!
Gatorland, Kissimmee: Learn to make great images of wading birds in a cluttered rookery.
The Brandon Rookery: Great for nesting Wood Storks, Great Egrets, and more.
Circle Bar B Reserve, Lakeland: Here you will find a great variety of avian subjects in a great variety of habitats.
Lake Morton, Lakeland: There are lots of silly tame birds here including and especially American White Pelican during the colder months.
Lake Mirror, Lakeland: Tame Anhingas, Limpkins, and a zillion White Ibises at times.
West Lake Parker, Lakeland: Here you will have a chance for two difficult birds, Snail Kite, and Purple Gallinule.
Joe Overstreet Road, Kenansville: Crested Caracara, meadowlarks, Loggerhead Shrike, and much more on the fenceposts and barbed wire.
Each location includes a map, a detailed description of the best spots, best season, light and time of day instructions, the expected species, and an educational and inspirational gallery that is designed to open your eyes as to the possibilities.
You can purchase a copy here in the BAA Online Store.
This image was also created on 30 April 2022 at Gatorland in Kissimmee, FL. Again, I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter (at 400mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 1600: 1/1000 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:47:17am in the shade on a then party sunny morning.
Tracking: Spot S AF-C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed perfectly. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Great Egret, large chick begging
Dealing With Mayhem
When an adult Great Egret lands at the nest with a bellyful of fish for its large chicks, the ensuing scene can only be described as mayhem. The chicks peck at the adult’s neck and breast as she points her bill to the sky further encouraging the chaos. When the adult lowers her head just a bit, one of the chicks grabs the bill and yanks on it with all of its might. This encourages the adult bird to regurgitate some partially digested fish either directly into the mouth of the chick or onto the floor of the nest. This scene is repeated two or three more times until the parent bird flies off in search of more fish.
In low light situations, photographing the feeding/beggin mayhem is difficult; you find yourself wishing for high shutter speeds along with extra depth of field. But to get there, you would need a ridiculously high ISO. With image #2, I raised the ISO to get to 1/1000 second, went from Tracking: Zone to Tracking Spot S, and looked for lulls in the action. That strategy worked fairly well as I kept eight image created in a very challenging situation.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Which of today’s two featured images do you prefer? All are invited to leave a comment and let us know why they made their choice.
Just for the Record
If you are not using a Sony a1 for bird photography, you are making your life far more difficult than it needs to be. Period. If you would like to receive a short but frank e-mail explaining why the Sony a1 is so much better than the best Nikon and Canon mirrorless camera bodies, please click here.
What’s Up?
I had a very good Saturday morning at Gatorland despite the fact that there are fewer nesting pairs than in any year in recent memory. Photos and more soon.
Today is Sunday 1 May 2022. The morning forecast for ILE is for sunny with a gentle east breeze. I will surely be heading down to the lake, perhaps to do some flowers. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about an hour to prepare and makes fifty-one days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
This image was created on 24 April 2022 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates. Working from the front seat of my SUV, I used the BLUBB-supported Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebras technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 2500: 1/500 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. The exposure was dead solid perfect when evaluated in RawDigger. AWB at 8:19:26am on a mostly cloudy morning.
Tracking: Spot S AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Killdeer chick in grassy field
24 April
The morning of Sunday 24 April 2022 was a very good one for bird photography. I waited for the perfect eye-level adult Sandhill Crane wing stretch, but did not have to wait long. Then I made a long series of verticals of one of the big crane colts galloping across the South Peninsula. I had done so well that I decided to head home early. When I drove past the field just to the south of the pier, I saw two fuzzy little things scurrying about — Killdeer chicks! They were the first I’d ever seen at ILE. I worked them from my vehicle for 15 frustrating minutes without getting very close to them.
This image was created on 24 April 2022 down by the lake near my home at Indian Lake Estates. Standing at full height, I used the no-longer available Induro GIT304L Stealth Carbon Fiber Tripod/Levered-Clamp FlexShooter Pro-mounted-Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS lens, the Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter, and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera). The exposure was determined via Zebras technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1000. 1/500 sec. at f/8 (wide open) in Manual mode. The exposure was dead solid perfect when evaluated in RawDigger. AWB at 8:39:36am on a mostly cloudy morning.
Tracking: Spot S AF-C with Bird Face/Eye detection enabled performed to perfection. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Killdeer chick on muddy shoreline
Even Better
When the two little cuties got near the base of the pier, they disappeared over a small rise that led down to the lakeshore. Theorizing that they were possibly in the vicinity of the nest in which they hatched, I exited my vehicle, set up my tripod, mounted the big lens with the 2X TC, and approached slowly. Both of the baby shorebirds were on a small area of muddy lakeshore. They walked to my left, then back to my right, then left, and then right, and kept that up for more than 10 minutes. They were so cooperative, that I kept more than 80 images from their little jaunt on the shore of the lake. This included a ridiculous 54 of the bird in Image #2 standing stock still in the exact same spot and pose as seen above.
One Day Wonders
I searched for the chicks on Monday morning, but did not find them. I left that afternoon for DeSoto …
Click on the image to better see the green eye-AF boxes in action.
Sony Alpha 1 Flight Photography AF Points!
The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up Guide and Info Group: $150.00 (or Free)
The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up Guide and Info Group is going great guns as more and more folks chime in with thoughtful questions and experience-based answers. As the a1 is becoming more readily available, more and more folks are getting their hands on this amazing body. By early April, the group was up to an astounding 115 lucky and blessed folks. Early on, we discussed the myriad AF options. I gave my opinion as to the best one for flight and general bird photography. The best news is that everyone in the group receives an e-mail that includes a .DAT file with my a1 settings on it, and explicit directions on how to load my settings onto your a1; talk about convenience! I am now offering a .DAT file compatible with firmware update 1.20. Your entry into the group includes a consolidated Sony a1 CAMSETA2 INFO & GUIDE. New a1 folks will now receive four e-mails instead of the previous 28! You will see new e-mails as they are published. Simply put, this e-mail guide is an incredible resource for anyone with an a1.
All who purchased their Alpha 1 bodies via a BAA affiliate link — B&H or Bedfords — will receive a free Sony Alpha a1 Set-Up Guide and free entry into the Info Updates group after shooting me their receipts via e-mail. (Note: it may take me several days to confirm B&H orders.). Others can purchase their guide here in the BAA Online Store.
Click on the composite image to enjoy the incredible quality of the hi-res JPEG.
Clockwise from upper left clockwise and back around to the center: Royal Tern in flight with squid for chick; Royal Tern chick on beach; Royal Tern in flight with shrimp for young; Royal Tern chick — double overhead wing stretch; Royal Tern landing with greenback for chick; Royal Tern in flight with juvenile mahi mahi for chick; Brown Pelican — large chick preening; Laughing Gull in fresh juvenal plumage; Royal Tern chick begging; Many Royal Terns with many chicks on face of dune.
Jacksonville IPT: #1: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of 16 June thru the morning of MON 20 June 2022: $2,099.00. (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #2: the afternoon of FRI 1 JULY thru the morning of TUES 5 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #3: the afternoon of FRI 15 JULY thru the morning of TUES 19 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Ride with me: add $200.00. I do not like to disappoint: each trip will run with one participant. If necessary.
I first visited the breeding bird colony at Jacksonville in late June 2021. I was astounded. There were many thousands of pairs of Royal Terns nesting along with about 10,000 pairs of Laughing Gulls. In addition to the royals, there were some Sandwich Terns nesting. And there are several dozen pairs of Brown Pelicans nesting on the ground. Flight photography was non-stop astounding. And photographing the tern chicks was relatively easy. Folks could do the whole trip with the Sony 200-600, the Canon 100-500 RF, or the Nikon 500 PF or 200-500 VR. With a TC in your pocket for use on sunny days. Most of the action is within 100 yards of where we park (on the beach). As with all bird photography, there are times when a super-telephoto lens with either TC is the best tool for the job.
Morning sessions will average about three hours, afternoon sessions about 1 1/2 hours. On cloudy mornings with favorable winds, we may opt to stay out for one long session and skip the afternoon, especially when the afternoon forecast is poor. Lunch is included on the first three days of the IPT and will be served at my AirBnB. After the first lunch there will be an introductory program. On days two and three we will do image review and Photoshop after lunch.
We will be based somewhere west and a bit north of Jacksonville where there are many AirBnB possibilities. The deposit is $599.00. Call Jim at the office any weekday at 863-692-0906 to pay by credit card. Balances must be paid by check.
What You Will Learn on a Jacksonville IPT
1- First and foremast you will learn to become a better flight photographer. Much better.
2-You will learn the basics and fine points of digital exposure. Nikon and Canon folks will learn to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure, and SONY folks will learn to use Zebras so that they can be sure of making excellent exposures before pressing the shutter button.
3- You will learn to work in Manual exposure mode even if you fear it.
4- You will learn to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography, especially the photography of birds in flight.
5- You will learn several pro secrets (for each system) that will help you to become a better flight photographer.
6- You will learn to zoom out in advance (because the birds are so close!) 🙂
7- You will learn how to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
8- You will learn to spot the good and the great situations.
9- You will learn to understand and predict bird behavior.
10- You will learn to design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
11- You will learn to choose the best perspective.
12- You will learn to see and control your backgrounds.
13- You will learn to see and understand the light.
14- You will learn to see and create pleasing blurs in pre-dawn situations.
15- You will learn to be ready for the most likely event.
And the best news is that you will be able to take everything you learn home with you so that you will be a better photographer wherever you are and whenever you photograph.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Which of today’s two featured action photos is your favorite? All are invited to leave a comment and let us know why they made their choice.
Just for the Record
If you are not using a Sony a1 for bird photography, you are making your life far more difficult than it needs to be. Period. If you would like to receive a short but frank e-mail explaining why the Sony a1 is so much better than the best Nikon and Canon mirrorless camera bodies, please click here.
What’s Up?
The weather was perfect for the last morning of the 2022 DeSoto Spring IPT, but the birds were a bit slow arriving to the party. We had a Marbled Godwit in gorgeous early morning light, but it flew away too soon for no reason at all. Surprisingly, it was the first MAGO we had seen. We abandoned the beach and hit my #1 morning back-up spot. By 8:30am, we were enjoying a huge feeding spree with terns, gulls, and Brown Pelicans diving on large schools of baitfish. When the action slowed, I headed back to Gulfport to check out of my AirBnB and drive back to Indian Lake Estates. When I arrived, I took a long nap and my usual half-mile swim.
The best way to learn from today’s blog post is to watch the short (2:52) YouTube video below from beginning to end. It tells a great story effectively and you can see the entire 11-frame action sequence that resulted in two spectacular images. Then scroll down to learn more about the situation and view the high-res JPEGs of the two best images optimized.
Today is Saturday 30 April 2022. The forecast for Kissimmee is perfect for Gatorland — cloudy with an east breeze. Be sure to say “Hi” if you run into me there. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes fifty days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)
Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.
An Aggressive Approach to Avian Action Photography Pays Off!
Over the past few years, two lady-friends inspired me to be more aggressive when photographing bird behavior, birds in flight, and birds in action. On the recently concluded 2022 BIRDS AS ART Spring DeSoto Instructional Photo-Tour (IPT), my new approach paid off in spades. To learn from me in person and enjoy some great bird photography, check out the IPT schedule here.
And Please Remember
You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Brand-New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or to any prior purchases.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
Important Note
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link immediately above). My link works with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂
Please Remember Also
Please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will (still!) save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I lost about fifty thousand dollars in income due to COVID 19 — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes, are invited to help out by clicking here to leave a blog thank you gift if they see fit.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
This image was created on 28 April 2022 on Day 3 of the 2022 Spring Fort DeSoto IPT. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter (at 226mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 2000: 1/3200 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:35:58am on a mostly cloudy morning.
Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed well enough. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Laughing Gull attacking Great Egret with fish
The Situation
Ironically, I had the group in the wrong spot when I created this image. The mostly Snowy and a very few Great Egrets where diving on baitfish under the pier. After I figured things out, I moved us about 15 yards to a spot where we could get our lenses on the diving birds. We all did quite well once we got to the right spot. Anyhoo, when I saw a Great Egret flying directly away from me into the wind I framed the image, acquired focus, and held the shutter button down for a short burst. After too many years of being ultra-conservative in such situations, I have finally gotten more aggressive. Two lady-friends, Anita North and Anke Frohlich, inspired me to be more aggressive when shooting action. They both used the same approach: get the bird in focus and hold the shutter button down. I got tired of seeing them create many great images by being relentlessly aggressive. On Thursday it was my turn.
The Amazingly Versatile Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens
This image was created on 28 April 2022 on Day 3 of the 2022 Spring Fort DeSoto IPT. I used the hand held Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II lens with the Sony FE 2x Teleconverter (at 230mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless Digital Camera.. The exposure was determined via Zebras with ISO on the thumb dial. ISO 2000: 1/3200 sec. at f/5.6 (wide open) in Manual mode. AWB at 8:35:58am on a mostly cloudy morning.
Tracking: Zone AF/C with Bird-Eye/Face Detection performed well enough. Click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Laughing Gull with fish stolen from Great Egret in flight
Don’t Be Greedy
Note that though I could have been zoomed in to 400mm for each image, I had only been at 226and 230mm. Why? Another lesson that I have learned over the past few years is that when shooting action and flight, it is generally best to frame loosely to avoid clipping any wings, heads, or feet. In addition, when trained on a given subject or subjects, shorter focal lengths will always provide more depth of field than longer focal lengths. Again, this more conservative approach paid off nicely. And I almost forgot to mention that sharp a1 image files can stand up well to large crops.
Note Also …
Note the fabulous job of noise reduction done by Topaz DeNoise on the two under-exposed ISO 2000 images. As regular readers know, I run DeNoise on virtually every image that I process immediately after executing the crop with the Delete Cropped Pixels box checked. For images made in sunny conditions, I used Standard. For images made in low light, I use Low Light. You can check all four methods by using the Comparison View, but I rarely do that anymore as I am confident as noted above.
Great Topaz News!
Folks who use the BAA Topaz link to purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or the Utility Bundle (or any other Topaz plug-ins), will receive a 15% discount by entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout. If the stuff is on sale (as it usually is), you save 15% off of the sale price! To get the discount you must use my link and you must enter the discount code. Be sure to start with this link.
Those who purchase Sharpen AI, DeNoise AI, or any other Topaz plug-ins using my link and then entering the ARTHUR15 code at checkout can e-mail to request a short Getting Started with Topaz e-Guide. Please include a copy of your Topaz receipt that shows the discount. Aside from the basics, the guide explains how to install the plug-ins so that they appear in the Photoshop Filter Menu.
Click on the image to better see the green eye-AF boxes in action.
Sony Alpha 1 Flight Photography AF Points!
The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up Guide and Info Group: $150.00 (or Free)
The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up Guide and Info Group is going great guns as more and more folks chime in with thoughtful questions and experience-based answers. As the a1 is becoming more readily available, more and more folks are getting their hands on this amazing body. By early April, the group was up to an astounding 115 lucky and blessed folks. Early on, we discussed the myriad AF options. I gave my opinion as to the best one for flight and general bird photography. The best news is that everyone in the group receives an e-mail that includes a .DAT file with my a1 settings on it, and explicit directions on how to load my settings onto your a1; talk about convenience! I am now offering a .DAT file compatible with firmware update 1.20. Your entry into the group includes a consolidated Sony a1 CAMSETA2 INFO & GUIDE. New a1 folks will now receive four e-mails instead of the previous 28! You will see new e-mails as they are published. Simply put, this e-mail guide is an incredible resource for anyone with an a1.
All who purchased their Alpha 1 bodies via a BAA affiliate link — B&H or Bedfords — will receive a free Sony Alpha a1 Set-Up Guide and free entry into the Info Updates group after shooting me their receipts via e-mail. (Note: it may take me several days to confirm B&H orders.). Others can purchase their guide here in the BAA Online Store.
Click on the composite image to enjoy the incredible quality of the hi-res JPEG.
Clockwise from upper left clockwise and back around to the center: Royal Tern in flight with squid for chick; Royal Tern chick on beach; Royal Tern in flight with shrimp for young; Royal Tern chick — double overhead wing stretch; Royal Tern landing with greenback for chick; Royal Tern in flight with juvenile mahi mahi for chick; Brown Pelican — large chick preening; Laughing Gull in fresh juvenal plumage; Royal Tern chick begging; Many Royal Terns with many chicks on face of dune.
Jacksonville IPT: #1: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of 16 June thru the morning of MON 20 June 2022: $2,099.00. (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #2: the afternoon of FRI 1 JULY thru the morning of TUES 5 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #3: the afternoon of FRI 15 JULY thru the morning of TUES 19 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Ride with me: add $200.00. I do not like to disappoint: each trip will run with one participant. If necessary.
I first visited the breeding bird colony at Jacksonville in late June 2021. I was astounded. There were many thousands of pairs of Royal Terns nesting along with about 10,000 pairs of Laughing Gulls. In addition to the royals, there were some Sandwich Terns nesting. And there are several dozen pairs of Brown Pelicans nesting on the ground. Flight photography was non-stop astounding. And photographing the tern chicks was relatively easy. Folks could do the whole trip with the Sony 200-600, the Canon 100-500 RF, or the Nikon 500 PF or 200-500 VR. With a TC in your pocket for use on sunny days. Most of the action is within 100 yards of where we park (on the beach). As with all bird photography, there are times when a super-telephoto lens with either TC is the best tool for the job.
Morning sessions will average about three hours, afternoon sessions about 1 1/2 hours. On cloudy mornings with favorable winds, we may opt to stay out for one long session and skip the afternoon, especially when the afternoon forecast is poor. Lunch is included on the first three days of the IPT and will be served at my AirBnB. After the first lunch there will be an introductory program. On days two and three we will do image review and Photoshop after lunch.
We will be based somewhere west and a bit north of Jacksonville where there are many AirBnB possibilities. The deposit is $599.00. Call Jim at the office any weekday at 863-692-0906 to pay by credit card. Balances must be paid by check.
What You Will Learn on a Jacksonville IPT
1- First and foremast you will learn to become a better flight photographer. Much better.
2-You will learn the basics and fine points of digital exposure. Nikon and Canon folks will learn to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure, and SONY folks will learn to use Zebras so that they can be sure of making excellent exposures before pressing the shutter button.
3- You will learn to work in Manual exposure mode even if you fear it.
4- You will learn to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography, especially the photography of birds in flight.
5- You will learn several pro secrets (for each system) that will help you to become a better flight photographer.
6- You will learn to zoom out in advance (because the birds are so close!) 🙂
7- You will learn how to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
8- You will learn to spot the good and the great situations.
9- You will learn to understand and predict bird behavior.
10- You will learn to design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
11- You will learn to choose the best perspective.
12- You will learn to see and control your backgrounds.
13- You will learn to see and understand the light.
14- You will learn to see and create pleasing blurs in pre-dawn situations.
15- You will learn to be ready for the most likely event.
And the best news is that you will be able to take everything you learn home with you so that you will be a better photographer wherever you are and whenever you photograph.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Which of today’s four featured and very different avian images is your favorite? All are invited to leave a comment and let us know why they made their choice.
Just for the Record
If you are not using a Sony a1 for bird photography, you are making your life far more difficult than it needs to be. Period.
What’s Up?
Me, still. Flying high and loving life. And this IPT group. Wednesday was a bit slow at our usual morning spot, so we hit the back-up location early. Things began slowly and it took me a while to come up with a plan, but once I figured out where we needed to be, we all made some excellent images of Snowy Egrets catching greenbacks under the pier and then flying back up to the railing. Story and images soon. Even better, I created two of the very best action images in 38+ years of trying. Thanks to Anita North, Anke Frohlich, and Sony. Photos and the whole story tomorrow.
I had my traditional last day lunch at the Neptune Grill — a big slice of their legendary peanut butter pie and a large glass of ice cold almond milk (unsweetened …) I took the group out for an early dinner at Pia’s Trattoria in Gulfport. DeSoto IPT regular Jim Miller had his favorite, the Homemade Lasagna, made with Pia’s Classic Bolognese Sauce Utilizing Grass Fed-Free Roaming Florida Beef and layers of Parmesan Béchamel served in a Cast Iron Skillet. I had mine: Parmigiana di Melanzane, Classic Layered Pan Fried Eggplant Served in a Skillet with Pomodoro Sauce, Mozzarella and Parmiggiano-Reggiano Cheese. New friend Peter Dominowksi enjoyed the Pesto Rosso: Spicy Sun-dried Tomatoes, Parmesan, Garlic and Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Hand Ground into a Paste and then Tossed with Italian Penne Pasta. Brendan, the kid in the group, got to the restaurant, could not find our table, and headed to DeSoto. We did the same and found a cooperative Tricolored Heron. The wind from the east did not help our cause. We did OK at my favorite sunset spot and then headed for bed.
Today is Friday 29 April, the last morning of the 2022 DeSoto Spring IPT. Again, the forecast for the morning is for clear with a brisk east wind, perfect for bird photography. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes forty-nine days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)
Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.
This image was created on 26 April on the Spring 2022 Fort DeSoto Park IPT. While standing along the edge of the surf I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure for Royal Terns in flight was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800. 1/4000 second at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 8:03:52am on a mostly clear morning. RawDigger showed the exposure for this Piping Plover to be 2/3 stop too dark.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Piping Plover in flat flight
Is That My Image?
Without the Sony a1 in my hands I could never have dreamed of creating a razor-sharp image of a small, fast shorebird in flight. I do not have the physical tools to make such images consistently, but once in a while, I can do it. In addition, the 200-600 lens is an incredible tool for creating images of flying and running shorebirds.
I was set up for images of the brighter, whiter Royal Terns. When the endangered plover flew by, I did not have time to fiddle with the exposure. I made a series of eight images that included one special one.
This image was created on 26 April on the Spring 2022 Fort DeSoto Park IPT. Using the ankle-pod technique while seated, I worked with the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 553mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800. 1/1000 second at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 6:25:24pm on a mostly sunny afternoon. RawDigger showed the exposure to be perfect.
Tracking: Spot S AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Red-breasted Merganser winter plumage female hauled out
Working the Subject
My eyes lit up when I saw this merganser hauled out on the sand. I sat down while a good distance from the bird and advanced slowly with my rig on my lap by pushing myself forward with my fists. Fun in the wet mud. But it got the job done. For this one I had to zoom out a bit to give the bird enough room in the frame.
This image was created on 27 April on the Spring 2022 Fort DeSoto Park IPT. Again, I used the ankle-pod technique with the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 529mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 800. 1/4000 second at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 6:44:29pm on a mostly sunny afternoon. RawDigger showed the exposure to be perfect.
Tracking: Spot S AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #3: Laughing Gull jumping up after bath
The Ankle-pod Technique
The more I use, practice, and teach the ankle-pod technique, the better the results. Right now, I have the technique pretty much perfected. It is so effective that I rarely bring a Panning Ground-Pod into the field anymore. For the flapping after bath shots, I set the shutter speed to at least 1/2000 second. Working off the tilted rear monitor and trusting the a1’s AF system, I can follow the birds and frame the image with the lens on my ankle as they jump into the air after a bath.
I learned on Wednesday that if a tern or a gull fills about 1/3 to 1/2 of the frame at 600mm (with the 200-600), that I can avoid clipping the wings most of the time when they flap by zooming out to 500mm or a bit more. I can now class myself as deadly when using the ankle-pod technique. And best of all, I can teach you to become proficient with it. Join me in Jacksonville to learn to perfect your ankle-podding.
This image was created on 28 April on the Spring 2022 Fort DeSoto Park IPT. While seated, I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1000. 1/1600 second at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 7:29:06am on a sunny morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be dead-solid perfect.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #4: Ruddy Turnstone male running on the edge of the surf
Getting Up Early
We got to the beach very early and headed straight to the Gulf in hopes of finding a few flocks of Red Knots. But there were only Sanderlings and turnstones. Most of the birds were working from right to left as they fed along the edge of the surf. We would get ahead of the birds and ahead of sun angle, sit on the wet sand, and let the birds work their way to us. Oftentimes they would sense our presence and begin to run. In those situations, the a1 is at its best. With Tracking: Zone, the AF system tracks the face or the eye accurately.
200-600 Versatility
Take a moment to consider the variety and quality of the eight images featured in the last two blog posts. When I do that, I am astounded. Then add the 1.4X TC and consider the Red Knot images in Tuesday’s blog post …
Click on the image to better see the green eye-AF boxes in action.
Sony Alpha 1 Flight Photography AF Points!
The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up Guide and Info Group: $150.00 (or Free)
The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up Guide and Info Group is going great guns as more and more folks chime in with thoughtful questions and experience-based answers. As the a1 is becoming more readily available, more and more folks are getting their hands on this amazing body. By early April, the group was up to an astounding 115 lucky and blessed folks. Early on, we discussed the myriad AF options. I gave my opinion as to the best one for flight and general bird photography. The best news is that everyone in the group receives an e-mail that includes a .DAT file with my a1 settings on it, and explicit directions on how to load my settings onto your a1; talk about convenience! I am now offering a .DAT file compatible with firmware update 1.20. Your entry into the group includes a consolidated Sony a1 CAMSETA2 INFO & GUIDE. New a1 folks will now receive four e-mails instead of the previous 28! You will see new e-mails as they are published. Simply put, this e-mail guide is an incredible resource for anyone with an a1.
All who purchased their Alpha 1 bodies via a BAA affiliate link — B&H or Bedfords — will receive a free Sony Alpha a1 Set-Up Guide and free entry into the Info Updates group after shooting me their receipts via e-mail. (Note: it may take me several days to confirm B&H orders.). Others can purchase their guide here in the BAA Online Store.
Click on the composite image to enjoy the incredible quality of the hi-res JPEG.
Clockwise from upper left clockwise and back around to the center: Royal Tern in flight with squid for chick; Royal Tern chick on beach; Royal Tern in flight with shrimp for young; Royal Tern chick — double overhead wing stretch; Royal Tern landing with greenback for chick; Royal Tern in flight with juvenile mahi mahi for chick; Brown Pelican — large chick preening; Laughing Gull in fresh juvenal plumage; Royal Tern chick begging; Many Royal Terns with many chicks on face of dune.
Jacksonville IPT: #1: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of 16 June thru the morning of MON 20 June 2022: $2,099.00. (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #2: the afternoon of FRI 1 JULY thru the morning of TUES 5 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #3: the afternoon of FRI 15 JULY thru the morning of TUES 19 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Ride with me: add $200.00. I do not like to disappoint: each trip will run with one participant. If necessary.
I first visited the breeding bird colony at Jacksonville in late June 2021. I was astounded. There were many thousands of pairs of Royal Terns nesting along with about 10,000 pairs of Laughing Gulls. In addition to the royals, there were some Sandwich Terns nesting. And there are several dozen pairs of Brown Pelicans nesting on the ground. Flight photography was non-stop astounding. And photographing the tern chicks was relatively easy. Folks could do the whole trip with the Sony 200-600, the Canon 100-500 RF, or the Nikon 500 PF or 200-500 VR. With a TC in your pocket for use on sunny days. Most of the action is within 100 yards of where we park (on the beach). As with all bird photography, there are times when a super-telephoto lens with either TC is the best tool for the job.
Morning sessions will average about three hours, afternoon sessions about 1 1/2 hours. On cloudy mornings with favorable winds, we may opt to stay out for one long session and skip the afternoon, especially when the afternoon forecast is poor. Lunch is included on the first three days of the IPT and will be served at my AirBnB. After the first lunch there will be an introductory program. On days two and three we will do image review and Photoshop after lunch.
We will be based somewhere west and a bit north of Jacksonville where there are many AirBnB possibilities. The deposit is $599.00. Call Jim at the office any weekday at 863-692-0906 to pay by credit card. Balances must be paid by check.
What You Will Learn on a Jacksonville IPT
1- First and foremast you will learn to become a better flight photographer. Much better.
2-You will learn the basics and fine points of digital exposure. Nikon and Canon folks will learn to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure, and SONY folks will learn to use Zebras so that they can be sure of making excellent exposures before pressing the shutter button.
3- You will learn to work in Manual exposure mode even if you fear it.
4- You will learn to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography, especially the photography of birds in flight.
5- You will learn several pro secrets (for each system) that will help you to become a better flight photographer.
6- You will learn to zoom out in advance (because the birds are so close!) 🙂
7- You will learn how to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
8- You will learn to spot the good and the great situations.
9- You will learn to understand and predict bird behavior.
10- You will learn to design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
11- You will learn to choose the best perspective.
12- You will learn to see and control your backgrounds.
13- You will learn to see and understand the light.
14- You will learn to see and create pleasing blurs in pre-dawn situations.
15- You will learn to be ready for the most likely event.
And the best news is that you will be able to take everything you learn home with you so that you will be a better photographer wherever you are and whenever you photograph.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
Which of today’s four featured and very different avian images is your favorite? All are invited to leave a comment and let us know why they made their choice.
Just for the Record
If you are not using a Sony a1 for bird photography, you are making your life far more difficult than it needs to be. Period.
What’s Up?
Me. High as a kite and loving life after another great IPT day at DeSoto. It was not quite as great as Tuesday had been, but we had lots of excellent chances and ended with a killer sunset and a bird on a perch (that took a while to develop).
Today is Thursday 28 April, Day 3 of the 2022 DeSoto Spring IPT. Again, the forecast is for partly cloudy in the morning with a NE breeze. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, I hope that you too have a great day. This blog post took about 90 minutes to prepare and makes forty-eight days in a row with a new one.
Please remember to use the B&H and Amazon links that are found on most blog pages and to use the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout when purchasing your new gear from Bedfords. Please, also, consider joining a BAA IPT. You will be amazed at how much you will learn!
BIRDS AS ART Image Optimization Service (BAA IOS)
Send a PayPal for $62.00 to birdsasart@verizon.net or call Jim at 863-692-0906 and put $62.00 on your credit card. Pick one of your best images and upload the raw file using a large file sending service like Hightail or DropBox and then send me the link via e-mail. I will download and save your raw file, evaluate the exposure and sharpness, and optimize the image as if it were my own after converting the raw file in Adobe Camera Raw. Best of all, I will make a screen recording of the entire process and send you a link to the video to download, save and study.
And Please Remember
You can find some great photo accessories (and necessities, like surf booties!) on Amazon by clicking on the Stuff tab on the orange/yellow menu bar above. On a related note, it would be extremely helpful if blog-folks who, like me, spend too much money on Amazon, would get in the habit of clicking on the Amazon logo link on the right side of each blog post when they shop online. As you might expect, doing so will not cost you a single penny, but would be appreciated tremendously by yours truly. And doing so works seamlessly with your Amazon Prime account.
Please remember that if an item — a Delkin flash card, or a tripod head — for example, that is available from B&H and/or Bedfords, is also available in the BAA Online Store, it would be great, and greatly appreciated, if you would opt to purchase from us. We will match any price. Please remember also to use my B&H affiliate links or to earn 3% cash back at Bedfords by using the BIRDSASART discount code at checkout for your major gear purchases. Doing either often earns you free guides and/or discounts. And always earns my great appreciation.
Brand-New and As-Good-As-Ever Bedfords BAA Discount Policy
Folks who have fallen in love with Bedfords can now use the BIRDSASART coupon code at checkout to enjoy a post-purchase, 3% off-statement credit (excluding taxes and shipping charges) on orders paid with a credit card. The 3% credit will be refunded to the card you used for your purchase. Be sure, also, to check the box for free shipping to enjoy free Second Day Air Fed-Ex. This offer does not apply to purchases of Classes, Gift Cards, or to any prior purchases.
Money Saving Reminder
Many have learned that if you need a hot photo item that is out of stock at B&H and would like to enjoy getting 3% back on your credit card along with free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex Air shipping, your best bet is to click here, place an order with Bedfords, and enter the coupon code BIRDSASART at checkout. If an item is out of stock, contact Steve Elkins via e-mail or on his cell phone at (479) 381-2592 (Central time). Be sure to mention the BIRDSASART coupon code and check the box for Free Shipping. That will automatically upgrade to free 2nd Day Air Fed-Ex. Steve has been great at getting folks the hot items that are out of stock at B&H and everywhere else. The waitlists at the big stores can be a year or longer for the hard-to-get items. Steve will surely get you your gear long before that. For the past year, he has been helping BAA Blog folks get their hands on items like the SONY a 1, the SONY 200-600 G OSS lens, the Canon EOS R5, the Canon RF 100-500mm lens, and the Nikon 500mm PF. Steve is personable, helpful, and eager to please.
Important Note
As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage when you purchase from Amazon after using any of the Amazon links on the blog (including the logo-link immediately above). My link works with Amazon Prime and using it will not cost you a single cent. Huge thanks, BTW 🙂
Please Remember Also
Please, if you enjoy and learn from the blog, remember to use one of my two affiliate programs when purchasing new gear. Doing so just might make it possible for me to avoid having to try to get a job as a Walmart greeter and will not cost you a single penny more. And if you use Bedfords and remember to enter the BIRDSASART code at checkout, you will (still!) save 3% on every order and enjoy free second-day air shipping. In these crazy times — I lost about fifty thousand dollars in income due to COVID 19 — remembering to use my B&H link or to shop at Bedfords will help me out a ton and be greatly appreciated. Overseas folks who cannot order from the US because of import fees, duties, and taxes, are invited to help out by clicking here to leave a blog thank you gift if they see fit.
Gear Questions and Advice
Too many folks attending BAA IPTs and dozens of photographers whom I see in the field and on BPN, are–out of ignorance–using the wrong gear, especially when it comes to tripods and more especially, tripod heads… Please know that I am always glad to answer your gear questions via e-mail. If you are desperate, you can try me on my cell at 863-221-2372. Please leave a message and shoot me a text if I do not pick up.
This image was created on 27 April 2022 at Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, FL. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1250. 1/5000 second at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 7:54:27am on a clear morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be just a bit too bright.
Upper Center Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #1: Great Blue Heron hazy morning silhouette
Dramatic Hazy Sky Silhouettes
When there is a hazy sun, the seemingly white sky near the sun can provide dramatic silhouette opportunities. Had I shot this one a bit darker, I could have made the whole sky gold in post-processing. But I like the abstract look. And love the gold at the top of the frame. The trick with these is to not include the hazy sun in the frame.
This image was created on 27 April 2022 at Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, FL. I used the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 1600. 1/2000 second at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 7:38:05am on a clear morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be perfect.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #2: Snowy Egret breeding plumage in heaven
Lens Pointed Up at a Wading Bird
I first patented this type of image when I got down on the ground at the Sanibel Fishing Pier to photograph the binocular vision of a Great Egret about three decades ago. The shot is available at many locations where herons and egret perch atop various structures. The out-of-focus metal roof in Image #2 provided the bird-in-heaven look. As with Image #1, good images are where you see them. Join an IPT to improve your creative vision.
This image was created on 27 April 2022 at Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, FL. I used the ankle-pod technique with the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 640. 1/2500 second at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 8:38:12am on a then-hazy morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be perfect.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #3: Royal Tern yawning
The Ankle-pod Technique
The more I use, practice, and teach the ankle-pod technique, the better the results. Right now, I have the technique pretty much perfected. It is so effective that I rarely bring a Panning Ground-Pod into the field anymore. If I have my reading glasses along, toggle the level on and off on the rear monitor, and work at shutter speeds of at least 1/250 second, I can routinely create excellent eye-level images of birds on the ground. I can now class myself as deadly when using the ankle-pod technique. And best of all, I can teach you to become proficient with it. Join me in Jacksonville to learn how and to perfect your ankle-podding.
This image was created on 26 April 2022 at Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, FL. I used the ankle-pod technique with the hand held Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens (at 600mm) and The One, the Sony Alpha 1 Mirrorless digital camera. ) The exposure was determined using Zebra technology with ISO on the Thumb Dial. ISO 640. 1/4000 second at f/6.3 (wide-open) in Manual Mode. AWB at 9:58:29am on a sunny morning. RawDigger showed the exposure to be dead-solid perfect.
Tracking: Zone AF-C with Bird Face/Eye Detection performed perfectly. Be sure to click on the image to enjoy a high-res version.
Image #4: Royal Tern fishing mayhem
A Near-Impossible Situation
There were huge schools of greenbacks. But there was only one spot where we could get on sun angle. Laughing Gulls and Royal and Sandwich Terns would circle and approach from our right while flying low over the water, only occasionally smacking into the water to grab a fish. And a Brown Pelican or two joined in on the fun. But photography was extremely difficult. Once I acquired focus, I would begin firing in hopes of capturing a chaotic scene. Obviously, had lots of images to delete. The biggest problem was that in most cases when the birds would hit the water, their forward motion would stop but you would keep panning …
In Image #4, I love the mayhem and the single baitfish suspended in midair. It almost looks as if the tiny greenback were attacking the tern!
Click on the image to better see the green eye-AF boxes in action.
Sony Alpha 1 Flight Photography AF Points!
The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up Guide and Info Group: $150.00 (or Free)
The SONY Alpha a1 Set-up Guide and Info Group is going great guns as more and more folks chime in with thoughtful questions and experience-based answers. As the a1 is becoming more readily available, more and more folks are getting their hands on this amazing body. By early April, the group was up to an astounding 115 lucky and blessed folks. Early on, we discussed the myriad AF options. I gave my opinion as to the best one for flight and general bird photography. The best news is that everyone in the group receives an e-mail that includes a .DAT file with my a1 settings on it, and explicit directions on how to load my settings onto your a1; talk about convenience! I am now offering a .DAT file compatible with firmware update 1.20. Your entry into the group includes a consolidated Sony a1 CAMSETA2 INFO & GUIDE. New a1 folks will now receive four e-mails instead of the previous 28! You will see new e-mails as they are published. Simply put, this e-mail guide is an incredible resource for anyone with an a1.
All who purchased their Alpha 1 bodies via a BAA affiliate link — B&H or Bedfords — will receive a free Sony Alpha a1 Set-Up Guide and free entry into the Info Updates group after shooting me their receipts via e-mail. (Note: it may take me several days to confirm B&H orders.). Others can purchase their guide here in the BAA Online Store.
Click on the composite image to enjoy the incredible quality of the hi-res JPEG.
Clockwise from upper left clockwise and back around to the center: Royal Tern in flight with squid for chick; Royal Tern chick on beach; Royal Tern in flight with shrimp for young; Royal Tern chick — double overhead wing stretch; Royal Tern landing with greenback for chick; Royal Tern in flight with juvenile mahi mahi for chick; Brown Pelican — large chick preening; Laughing Gull in fresh juvenal plumage; Royal Tern chick begging; Many Royal Terns with many chicks on face of dune.
Jacksonville IPT: #1: 4 FULL DAYS — the afternoon of 16 June thru the morning of MON 20 June 2022: $2,099.00. (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #2: the afternoon of FRI 1 JULY thru the morning of TUES 5 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Jacksonville IPT #3: the afternoon of FRI 15 JULY thru the morning of TUES 19 July 2022: $2099.00 (Limit 6 photographers)
Ride with me: add $200.00. I do not like to disappoint: each trip will run with one participant. If necessary.
I first visited the breeding bird colony at Jacksonville in late June 2021. I was astounded. There were many thousands of pairs of Royal Terns nesting along with about 10,000 pairs of Laughing Gulls. In addition to the royals, there were some Sandwich Terns nesting. And there are several dozen pairs of Brown Pelicans nesting on the ground. Flight photography was non-stop astounding. And photographing the tern chicks was relatively easy. Folks could do the whole trip with the Sony 200-600, the Canon 100-500 RF, or the Nikon 500 PF or 200-500 VR. With a TC in your pocket for use on sunny days. Most of the action is within 100 yards of where we park (on the beach). As with all bird photography, there are times when a super-telephoto lens with either TC is the best tool for the job.
Morning sessions will average about three hours, afternoon sessions about 1 1/2 hours. On cloudy mornings with favorable winds, we may opt to stay out for one long session and skip the afternoon, especially when the afternoon forecast is poor. Lunch is included on the first three days of the IPT and will be served at my AirBnB. After the first lunch there will be an introductory program. On days two and three we will do image review and Photoshop after lunch.
We will be based somewhere west and a bit north of Jacksonville where there are many AirBnB possibilities. The deposit is $599.00. Call Jim at the office any weekday at 863-692-0906 to pay by credit card. Balances must be paid by check.
What You Will Learn on a Jacksonville IPT
1- First and foremast you will learn to become a better flight photographer. Much better.
2-You will learn the basics and fine points of digital exposure. Nikon and Canon folks will learn to get the right exposure every time after making a single test exposure, and SONY folks will learn to use Zebras so that they can be sure of making excellent exposures before pressing the shutter button.
3- You will learn to work in Manual exposure mode even if you fear it.
4- You will learn to evaluate wind and sky conditions and understand how they affect bird photography, especially the photography of birds in flight.
5- You will learn several pro secrets (for each system) that will help you to become a better flight photographer.
6- You will learn to zoom out in advance (because the birds are so close!) 🙂
7- You will learn how to approach free and wild birds without disturbing them.
8- You will learn to spot the good and the great situations.
9- You will learn to understand and predict bird behavior.
10- You will learn to design pleasing images by mastering your camera’s AF system.
11- You will learn to choose the best perspective.
12- You will learn to see and control your backgrounds.
13- You will learn to see and understand the light.
14- You will learn to see and create pleasing blurs in pre-dawn situations.
15- You will learn to be ready for the most likely event.
And the best news is that you will be able to take everything you learn home with you so that you will be a better photographer wherever you are and whenever you photograph.
Typos
With all blog posts, feel free to e-mail or to leave a comment regarding any typos or errors.
